'I like him a lot' - Cristiano Ronaldo compares Jude Bellingham to Zinedine Zidane and makes prediction on his Real Madrid future

Bellingham joined Los Blancos in a high-profile €103 million (£88m/$112m) transfer in 2023, inheriting the iconic No.5 jersey - a number famously worn by Zidane during his illustrious spell at the club. The 20-year-old midfielder has lived up to the hype, scoring 33 goals in 73 matches across all competitions for Madrid since his arrival. His stellar performances saw him claim third place in the 2024 Ballon d'Or rankings as he finished behind his Real Madrid team-mate Vinicius Jr., who was the runner-up, and Manchester City’s Rodri, who took home the prestigious award.

Speaking about Bellingham’s impact at Real Madrid, Ronaldo praised the youngster and likened him to midfield legend Zidane.

"I like him a lot, he reminds me of Zidane," the former Real striker said in an interview with La Sexta. "Bellingham is very young and has his whole future ahead of him, he will give a lot to Madrid."

Zidane, widely regarded as one of the best midfielders to ever grace the game, left an enduring legacy at Santiago Bernabeu. During his five-year stint with Los Blancos, the French icon scored 49 goals in 227 matches and was instrumental in their ninth Champions League success with a stunning goal in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. Given his performances so far, many believe that Bellingham could not only match Zidane’s impact at Madrid but even surpass it, having already bagged La Liga and Champions League titles at the club himself.

Bellingham's ability to score, create, and dictate play from midfield makes him an invaluable asset to the squad. He will return to action on Wednesday night as Real Madrid face Leganes in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.