Former Manchester United Icon Boldly Asserts Remarkable Claim About Real Madrid Player
Jude Bellingham’s Remarkable Rise: A Future Ballon d’Or Contender?
Jude Bellingham, coveted by top European clubs, is rapidly validating the hype surrounding him. In just four competitive games for Real Madrid, the Englishman has already amassed five goals and an assist, a goal-scoring record that any striker would envy. Bellingham primarily operates in the number 10 role but enjoys considerable freedom in Carlo Ancelotti’s system.
Having long been considered one of the world’s premier talents during his time at Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham appears to have elevated his game since joining Real Madrid. It’s astonishing to think that he recently turned 20, leaving us to ponder his boundless potential. We may very well be witnessing the early stages of one of football’s greatest-ever players.
Rio Ferdinand, a Manchester United legend, believes Bellingham has surpassed the achievements of iconic midfielders like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Paul Scholes at the same age. Ferdinand remarked during an interview on BBC Radio 5Live (as reported by Daily Post Nigeria), “He is going to be pitted against people like Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, and I would say right now, comfortably, that none of those players were doing anything like what he’s doing at this age, and that’s the yardstick. So he can go on and win Ballon d’Ors. I’ll be very surprised if this kid doesn’t finish his career with at least one, maybe two or three Ballon d’Ors, because I think he’s that good.”
While Bellingham has not yet achieved the legendary status of Lampard, Gerrard, or Scholes, his potential knows no bounds at the age of 20. The Ballon d’Or is within reach for players at Real Madrid, as five of the last six winners have been affiliated with the club at some point in their careers, with Lionel Messi being the sole exception.
If Bellingham maintains his remarkable performances, he is sure to contend for multiple Ballon d’Or awards in the future. The era of dominance may not be limited to just Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, as many anticipate.