Jude Bellingham claims Ballon d'Or is for 'flashy players' as he insists he 'isn't fussed' about top prize & backs Real Madrid co-star to land it

Bellingham is seen as a contender for the prize given to the best player in the world over the course of a year due to his stellar debut season since joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund. However, the 20-year-old is not bothered whether or not he wins it and would feel just as good if the award went to his co-star.

"I'm not really too fussed about it," he told Teledeporte. "I always felt that the Ballon d'Or and those kind of things were like for strikers and wingers, the flashy players. I know I can entertain a crowd but no one can do it like Vini. I've said before that when he is at his best, he's the best player in the world. I know he likes to say the same about me and that's the kind of relationship we have. You don't always have to be friends with your team-mates but it helps when you can be so close off the pitch as well, and then on the pitch it reflects. We have a good understanding of each other's movement and if he was to win it I'd feel just as proud as if I'd won it because I know that I've helped contribute to his success."

Bellingham was directly involved in an awesome 25 goals - scoring 19 and setting up six - to help Madrid secure the Spanish league title this season. He also netted four and assisted just as many to send Carlo Ancelotti's team through to the Champions League final. His Brazilian team-mate played a vital role, too, scoring 20 and setting up a further nine across both competitions.

The Madrid duo will hope to fire the Santiago Bernabeu team to European glory this week when they take on Bellingham's former team, Dortmund, in the Champions League final on Saturday. Victory would see Madrid take the European title for the 15th time in their history.