Jude Bellingham matches Lionel Messi with stunning Champions League assist in Real Madrid win

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham took his personal tally of a combined 24 goals and assists in the Champions League as they beat Red Bull Austria on Wednesday night – a feat achieved at the same age as Lionel Messi.

Bellingham inadvertently blocked Rodrygo’s early goal in midweek, mis-controlling Vinicius Junior’s cross-field switch into the path of the Brazilian, who beat Madrid in front midway through the first half. Ten minutes later the pair were powerfully on the same wavelength.

The England international favored a wicked pass between two encroaching Borussia players for Rodrigo, who fired a first-time finish into the bottom corner.

Madrid eventually won 5–1, guaranteeing qualification for the knockout stages and prompting Carlo Ancelotti to say: “The individual talent we have is immense.”

Bellingham’s talent is greater than that of most people. After Wednesday’s heroics, the 21-year-old has claimed 13 Champions League assists on 11 goals in Europe’s premier club competition. Former Barcelona icon Messi, as many Madrid-leaning viewers were quick to point out, contributed directly to the same number of Champions League goals before the age of 22, scoring 17 and assisting seven.

The outstanding forward would ultimately finish his career in European football with 169 direct Champions League goal contributions (129 goals and 40 assists) – only Cristiano Ronaldo can better that. However, the Portuguese forward made a slow start on the continental stage.

By the time Ronaldo turned 22 in February 2007, he had scored zero goals and only six assists in the Champions League for Manchester United.

Neither Messi nor Bellingham top the list of prolific talents among Europe’s elite. Erling Haaland has made 26 direct contributions before turning 22, while Kylian Mbappe leads the way with 37 in his own right.

Bellingham won’t turn 22 until June, so he’ll need the rest of the season to catch up to his teammate’s stellar performance.

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player

U21 goals and assists

1.

klian mbappe

37

2.

erling holland

26

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Lionel Messi

24

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Jude Bellingham

24

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