A 20-year-old English player significantly contributed to Real Madrid's prolonged La Liga championship success and emerged as a top-tier global footballer.
This picture shows a young man who has made an immense impression on the world through his performance on and off the pitch for Real Madrid, earning praise for his maturity, leadership skills, and extraordinary talent. Underneath the image, his teammate Rodrygo commented, "First league of many."
Bellingham, an already established young soccer sensation from his time at Borussia Dortmund, has solidified his place among the sport's greatest performers in his debut season with Real Madrid, standing out in a team full of remarkable athletes.
The midfielder is a leading contender for this year's Ballon d'Or trophy, has earned the affinity of the Madridistas, and even created his unique celebratory pose, standing before the crowd with stretched arms, basking in the applause.
That posture has emerged as a common occurrence in La Liga this season as Bellingham scored a remarkable 18 league goals, including late winners in both key El Clásico matches against Barcelona, with the first praised by manager Carlo Ancelotti as the pivotal turning point in determining this year's championship race.
"We didn't slip up when everyone expected us to," Bellingham told Realmadrid TV. "Bellingham's goal against Barcelona gave us the edge. We had a lot of consistency from the start to the end."
When Bellingham signed with Real Madrid, substantial expectations surrounded the young Englishman. The club had recently lost its long-standing star player Karim Benzema, missed out on acquiring Kylian Mbappé again, and was recovering from a subpar season in which it was soundly beaten by Manchester City in the Champions League semifinals, finishing 10 points behind Barcelona in the league.
However, nobody could have anticipated the extensive impact Bellingham had virtually from the start of his tenure in the Spanish capital. He scored 10 goals in his initial 10 games, secured La Liga's player of the month for August, and rapidly established his knack for netting late winners, rescuing Real late in their match against Getafe in September.
"Jude Bellingham, the complete Galactico," read a headline from Spanish newspaper Marca in December above an article comparing him to the best characteristics of other Real Madrid star signings such as David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane.
It's not only his goal scoring that has been beneficial for Real Madrid. He provided 10 assists this season, and his presence in the locker room has been likened to that of Zidane by TNT Sports commentator and former Real Madrid player Steve McManaman. (TNT Sports, similarly to CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.)
Despite Bellingham's remarkable early contributions to his Real Madrid career, his form wavered slightly from its initial lofty heights this season, and he confessed in an April press conference that an injury and suspension following a red card hampered his performance.
"My role has changed slightly," he stated. "There's been little things I've had to modify, which means I've had to do a bit more hard work for the team, but I don't mind doing it."
Yet, he has managed to remain influential at crucial junctures - scoring that injury-time winner against Barcelona in April and giving a remarkable exhibition against Cádiz on Saturday to showcase his ceaselessly potent potential.
"Madrid feels like home now," he shared with Amanda Davies of CNN in April. "I feel a familiar connection with the fans and the people here. So, yes, really happy."
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Bellingham's impressive performances for Real Madrid in his debut season have earned him a place among the world's top footballers, showcasing his skills on the field during high-stakes matches like the El Clásico. His unique celebratory pose, a stretch of arms basking in applause, has become a common sight, reflecting his confidence and impact on La Liga.
After making a significant impact in his first games with Real Madrid, Bellingham has continued to excel in the sport, including scoring late-game winners against Barcelona and securing several team accolades. His ability to adapt and remain influential, even amid injury and suspension, highlight his commitment to the game and his love for football.
Source: edition.cnn.com
