Jude Bellingham has become the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo to score in his first three games for Real Madrid.
The 20-year-old midfielder’s swift adaptation to the Spanish capital has been remarkable following his £103million transfer from Borussia Dortmund. On Friday night, he secured Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo with a decisive goal.
Facing adversity after Vinicius Junior’s injury, Real Madrid struggled to break the deadlock throughout the match. Nonetheless, Bellingham stepped up in the 81st minute with a headed goal, marking his fourth for the club.
This achievement places him alongside Ronaldo as the only player to score in their first three appearances for Real Madrid.
Bellingham’s journey with Madrid began with a goal in the 2-0 opening day triumph against Athletic Club. His impressive debut was followed by a two-goal performance in the 3-1 victory against Almeria
Jude Bellingham has now scored 4 goals in his first 3 games for Real Madrid.
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) August 25, 2023
He's only 20 years old... pic.twitter.com/cdOJlNwrj5
Bellingham’s goal-scoring prowess was initially evident during his time at Dortmund, particularly when he transitioned to a more attacking midfield role.
In his first two Bundesliga seasons, even though he secured a regular spot in the lineup at just 17 years old, he managed four goals in 62 matches. Additionally, he found the back of the net six times in cup and European competitions.
However, his trajectory shifted significantly last season, as he netted eight Bundesliga goals and a total of 14 across all competitions, averaging one goal every three games.
“We believe that the arrival of Bellingham covers the absence of Karim,” said Real head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“He is a serious, mature boy with a lot of quality. What he is doing is not surprising to those of us who know him, what is surprising is that he is only 20 years old.”
