Jude Bellingham’s huge impact at Real Madrid can be seen across the Spanish capital’s playgrounds, parks and pitches.
The children stood with their arms outstretched, looking out at the imaginary crowd, gleefully embracing Bellingham’s signature celebration. However, there was a cry of “Xiao!” Still prolific across the country, such is the undiluted power of Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy.
They say the legendary white shirt hangs heavier than any other, but no one in Real Madrid’s illustrious history has made it through his first few months at the club as easily as Ronaldo. Until Bellingham hangs out.
date |
match |
Target |
Assist |
---|---|---|---|
August 29, 2009 |
Real Madrid 3-2 Deportivo La Coruna |
1 |
0 |
September 12, 2009 |
Espanyol 0-3 Real Madrid |
1 |
0 |
September 15, 2009 |
Zurich 2-5 Real Madrid |
2 |
0 |
September 20, 2009 |
Real Madrid 5-0 Xerez |
2 |
0 |
September 23, 2009 |
Villarreal 0-2 Real Madrid |
1 |
0 |
September 26, 2009 |
Real Madrid 3-0 Tenerife |
0 |
0 |
September 30, 2009 |
Real Madrid 3-0 Marseille |
2 |
0 |
November 25, 2009 |
Real Madrid 1-0 Zurich |
0 |
0 |
November 29, 2009 |
Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid |
0 |
0 |
December 5, 2009 |
Real Madrid 4-2 Almeria |
1 |
1 |
Ronaldo, the most expensive player in the history of the sport, arrived a year later than expected and his move to Madrid was fraught with heavy expectations. A lackluster debut, saved by a fine penalty, left club director Jorge Valdano concerned that Ronaldo “doesn’t need to try to prove who he is every time he gets the ball”. A Spanish media outlet compared the Portuguese superstar to a teenager nervously groping during a first sexual encounter.
Ronaldo was completely relaxed as he made his second start in La Liga, scoring the first of two goals against Serres after just 47 seconds. Three days later, it took Ronaldo 107 seconds to open the scoring against Villarreal.
The first player to score in each of Madrid’s first three games (Bellingham also achieved the same feat) immediately joined Lionel Messi in the race for top scorer. Ronaldo ended up winning three Pichichi trophies, but committed a minor faux pas by calling the award a “Pacho Joe”.
It’s easy to forget that Ronaldo, who missed two months with an ankle injury, made a hasty return for the first El Clasico of the season only to be overshadowed by a huge haul from the other side of the bitter divide. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the only goal in a thrilling match, while Ronaldo missed a great opportunity that would attract endless attention in the coming days. To add insult to injury, Ronaldo was tackled by Gerard Pique in the process of scoring for Barcelona.
Ronaldo returned to the goalscoring charts the following weekend but celebrated by taking off his shirt, revealing the muscles gained from doing 3,000 sit-ups a day, as reported this week. Three minutes later, Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his Spanish career when he received a second yellow card for an apparent foul, tarnishing his tenth game for Real Madrid.
date |
match |
Target |
Assist |
---|---|---|---|
August 12, 2023 |
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Real Madrid |
1 |
0 |
August 19, 2023 |
Almeria 1-3 Real Madrid |
2 |
1 |
August 25, 2023 |
Celta Vigo 0-1 Real Madrid |
1 |
0 |
September 2, 2023 |
Real Madrid 2-1 Getafe |
1 |
0 |
September 17, 2023 |
Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad |
0 |
0 |
September 20, 2023 |
Real Madrid 1-0 Union Berlin |
1 |
0 |
September 24, 2023 |
Atletico Madrid 1-3 Real Madrid |
0 |
0 |
September 30, 2023 |
Girona 0-3 Real Madrid |
1 |
1 |
10/03/2023 |
Napoli 2-3 Real Madrid |
1 |
1 |
10/07/2023 |
Real Madrid-Osasuna |
2 |
0 |
If Ronaldo’s debut was satisfactory, then Bellingham’s bow for Real Madrid was shocking. Bellingham got off to the perfect start as he charged the length and width of the pitch at Athletic Club’s desolate San Mamés, with the ball bouncing onto the turf and beating Unai Simon’s save.
A week later, the former Birmingham City starlet scored twice and the team was already being dubbed “Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid”.
Everyone, including the police on duty outside the capital, wanted a piece of Bellingham’s money.
Renovations at the Santiago Bernabeu delayed Bellingham’s debut but the wait was worth it; Bellingham maintained the poacher instincts he developed over the summer and scored in the 95th minute against Getafe After scoring the winning goal, his roar gave him “goosebumps” and made his legs tremble. Bellingham was not fazed by the intensity of the La Liga defenders and evaded Getafe’s Stefan Mitrovic during the clash, imitating a matador whipping the bull with his cape.
After recording the first blank of his short career in Madrid against Real Sociedad, Bellingham scored another stoppage-time winner on his Champions League debut for the club ball, cruelly depriving Union Berlin of their famous scoring chance at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Just as Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a defeat in his first game with Barcelona, Bellingham suffered a defeat in his first derby with Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone highlighted how Bellingham struggled without the aerial power of Joselu to distract some attention. Carlo Ancelotti duly returned his only natural center forward to the starting line-up against Girona, providing Bellingham with a stunning goal from outside the boot.
Yet as Bellingham danced his way through Serie A champions Napoli and scored a stunning goal at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Joselu was among the awed spectators of 50,000. One, a goal worthy of comparison with the great man himself. “It’s a little too much,” Bellingham warned.
Real Madrid’s mysterious new No. 5 jersey did little to quell the growing hype as he scored twice against Osasuna to equal Ronaldo’s tally of double figures in his first ten games in an all-white shirt Number of goals scored. Bellingham’s opener, blasting past Sergio Herrera with his allegedly weaker left foot, sparked a crystal-clear surrender. Hey Jude People watching with wide eyes in the stands.
Statistical data |
cristiano ronaldo |
Jude Bellingham |
---|---|---|
game |
10 |
10 |
Record |
W9 D0 L1 |
W9 D0 L1 |
Target |
10 |
10 |
Assist |
1 |
3 |