Jude Bellingham has taken Real Madrid and World Football by a storm right now!
He’s gathered 15 goals + 4 assists in just 16 games for Real Madrid breaking the records of Puskas, Di Stefano and Ronaldo himself. All of this while just recently turning 20 years old, with his entire career ahead of him.
What he’s doing is unheard of, perhaps only Ronaldo Fenomenon himself had a better start to the season than him as a 20 years old.
The differentiator however is his impact in the game, he’s truly bossing the free role at Madrid contrubuting in goals, assists, key passes, dribbles, crosses, headers, flicks, finishing, playmaking, 1-2 passing, off ball movements, interceptions, tackles, positioning, strength, dominating, work rate and even leadership… There is truly nothing that this boy can’t do!
I genuinely cannot point a single weakness in his game right now, he’s top of the charts for almost all attributes since the start of the season. So these achievements so far in the season brings the question, What is his ceiling as a footballer provided he continues this streak? Generational? All-Timer? GOAT candidate?
It’s hard to tell. With English players, it’s difficult because they all start strong in ages 17-22 and then they either break or slow down to accept an “average good player” role. Look at Welbeck, Grealish, Foden, Rashford, Cole (Chelsea), Owen, etc. I don’t know what the ceiling could be because after the age of 22 then we will be able to see a more mature version of him and he will have decided where he wants his career to go to.
Right now at his age he obviously seems overly mature in his game style and personality so the future does look bright! But we’ve said that with many other English and non-English players. We just have to wait and enjoy his progression.
Source: objective but hardcore Barca fan who’s been watching and following the sport since 2002.