After scoring a late winner in Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Union Berlin in their Champions League group stage opening on Wednesday night, Jude Bellingham has tied a record set by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Following his £115 million summer transfer from Borussia Dortmund, the 20-year-old midfielder has had an incredible start to life with the Spanish giants, netting six goals in as many games across all competitions.
In the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, Bellingham scored on his Champions League debut for Real Madrid after converting a loose ball inside the six-yard box to secure all three points for the hosts and stun Union Berlin. Bellingham scored on his La Liga debut for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao in mid-August.
Along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco, and Marco Asensio, the former Birmingham City player has now joined a select group of Real Madrid players who have scored on their La Liga and Champions League debuts.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, scored both of his debut goals in 2009, and Isco and Asensio did the same in 2013 and 2016, respectively. Ronaldo holds the Los Blancos record for career goals scored with 450 goals in just 438 appearances.
Bellingham also made history by becoming the newest Real Madrid player and the newest Englishman to score a Champions League winner in stoppage time.
.
Bellingham told TNT Sports that he would much rather continue scoring in the 90th or later after scoring the game-winning goal: A late goal is always beneficial because it typically ends the game.
“For us, I believe we dominated the game; the ball was mostly in our possession. I don’t think I can recall [Union Berlin] getting many clear-cut chances, but they were so well-organized that they did a great job defending.
“It was just the mentality that we’ve displayed the entire season—the idea that even when we falter or have losses, we persevere to the very end. In the end, I always think there are opportunities for us; all we need to do is be in the appropriate places to take advantage of them.
Man of the Match Bellingham said, referring to Real Madrid’s never-say-die mentality, “That’s the history of the club. Although I’m new to the group, I’ve grown up watching them on television. I don’t recall when I first started seeing Madrid complete comebacks and believing there was no way it could happen.
“I think you just pick it up and it rubs off on you when you’re around those players every day who have been a part of those victories in the past, and I think if you don’t have it then [your teammates] sniff it out of you,” said the player.
.”I must continue on my current route because the men in the [Madrid dressing room] are fantastic players and brilliant professionals, and I must continue learning from them.
When asked if the Real Madrid audience met his expectations, Bellingham responded, “More, I’m getting shivers just thinking about it now! Being here at this club is such a blessing. I discuss the attitudes and abilities of the players and the coaching staff, as well as the supporters, who represent the opposition.
“They are swarming in their numbers outside the stadium when you arrive to catch a glimpse of the bus, and then before the game they are there before the warm-up.
“Until you play for this club, you don’t really understand how big it is, and I now have that honor, which I’ll always wear with pride.”
Bellingham will be hoping to build on his strong start to the season as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid square off in La Liga action on Sunday at the Wanda Metropolitano.
.
