Jude Bellingham joined Cristiano Ronaldo in an exclusive club after netting the winner on his Champions League debut for Real Madrid in their last-gasp win over Union Berlin on Wednesday evening.
The Englishman arrived in the Spanish capital from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund over the summer in what was the club’s only major piece of business, setting Los Blancos back over 100m euros in the process.
However, he has taken to life at the Santiago Bernabeu seamlessly, and appears to have taken his game up several levels under Carlo Ancelotti.
Already a firm fan favourite, the 20-year-old midfielder was again the deciding factor in their Champions League opener, which threatened to see them drop points against German outfit Union Berlin at home as they petered towards a 0-0 draw.
That was until Bellingham stepped up.
The Englishman had endured a tough evening but once again popped up in the right place at the right time to tap in a rebound after an effort from Lucas Vazquez had been pushed out by goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow.
JUDE BELLINGHAM IS A JOKE.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) September 20, 2023
He joins illustrious company too, with those having managed the feat including Champions League all-time record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Spanish pair Isco and Marco Asensio, who managed to do so in 2013 and 2016 respectively.
4 – Jude Bellingham 🏴 is the fourth player to score on his debut for @realmadriden in both LaLiga and the Champions League in the 21st century, after Cristiano Ronaldo 🇵🇹 in 2009, Isco Alarcón 🇪🇸 in 2013 and Marco Asensio 🇪🇸 in 2016. Star. pic.twitter.com/5bSf1n3IEa
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 20, 2023
Before the turn of the century, it had only been achieved once before, by Spanish sharpshooter Fernando Morientes.
Fernando Morientes ⚽️
Cristiano Ronaldo ⚽️
Isco ⚽️
Marco Asensio ⚽️
Jude Bellingham ⚽️#UCL pic.twitter.com/kzhpUWG44H— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 20, 2023
The goal from the 20-year-old helped Real Madrid continue their 100% start to the season and was Bellingham’s sixth goal in as many games for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
They face a derby with city-rivals Atletico next, where Bellingham will be aiming to continue his phenomenal goalscoring record, and write his name further into folklore in the Spanish capital.
