Jude Bellingham’s arrival at Real Madrid has brought with it an unexpected surge of goals, reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo’s early days at the club 14 years ago. While Bellingham wasn’t initially signed by Real Madrid for his goal-scoring prowess, he has made a remarkable impact in a similar vein to the Portuguese superstar.
Real Madrid made a substantial investment in Bellingham, with an initial transfer fee of €103 million (£88 million), making him the second most expensive signing in the club’s history, trailing only Eden Hazard. Potential add-ons could further elevate this fee to €134 million (£115 million). Thus far, the club appears to be receiving exceptional value for their investment.
Jude Bellingham Equals Cristiano Ronaldo’s Record with Latest Real Madrid Goal
During a recent match against Getafe, Bellingham demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion. In the absence of the injured Vinicius Junior, Carlo Ancelotti’s team required someone to step up, and Bellingham did just that. The 20-year-old has thrived in his role as the ‘number 10’ this season, taking advantage of his more advanced position on the pitch to make impactful plays.
As the game against Getafe unfolded, with Madrid initially falling behind 1-0 before clawing back to a 1-1 draw, it was Bellingham who emerged as the hero in the 95th minute. His last-minute goal secured the victory for Madrid, maintaining their perfect start to the season with three wins in three matches. As a result, they now hold a five-point lead over the competition, regardless of the outcomes of matches involving Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, or Girona on Sunday.
For Bellingham, this goal marked his fifth La Liga goal in just four appearances in the competition. He made an impactful debut by scoring against Athletic Club last month, followed by a brace against Almeria. Another goal in the narrow 1-0 win against Celta Vigo was followed by the crucial winner against Getafe. This match also marked his home debut, as Madrid had to start the season on the road due to renovations at the Bernabeu.
Madrid, in need of a reliable goal-scorer in the absence of Karim Benzema, found an unexpected source of goals in Bellingham. Remarkably, he is now only three goals away from matching his best-ever goal tally in a single league season, a feat he achieved with Borussia Dortmund in the 2022/23 season.
Bellingham’s five goals in his first four La Liga matches also draw parallels with Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive start at Real Madrid in 2009. Back then, Ronaldo netted goals against Deportivo La Coruna, Espanyol, Xerez (twice), and Villarreal in four consecutive victories under manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Carlo Ancelotti, speaking after the Getafe game, expressed his admiration for Bellingham’s quality and noted the surprise at his prolific goal-scoring start. Ancelotti highlighted Bellingham’s professionalism and adaptability, suggesting that he could reach a remarkable goal tally of 15, a feat he previously achieved with Dortmund across all competitions.
Bellingham’s ability to excel without the ball, break lines, and consistently make attacking movements has been instrumental in his goal-scoring spree. Ancelotti praised Bellingham’s quick learning ability and revealed that the coaching staff has shown him videos of his performances with Dortmund, emphasizing what they liked and wanted him to continue doing. The key difference, Ancelotti noted, is Bellingham’s increased movement without the ball in the opponent’s area.
Jude Bellingham’s impact at Real Madrid is rapidly becoming a headline story, as he continues to emulate the goal-scoring prowess of Cristiano Ronaldo during his early days at the club.