Jude Bellingham names unheralded ‘Galactico’ as 'most talented player' in Real Madrid squad after Kylian Mbappe steals more headlines with Champions League hat-trick vs Man City

The Brazil international forward often finds himself overshadowed at Santiago Bernabeu by the exploits of others. Fellow countryman Vinicius Junior has become a Ballon d’Or contender, while Bellingham is a talismanic figure for the Blancos and England.

Then there is Kylian Mbappe. The World Cup-winning Frenchman stole the headlines again with a virtuoso display against Manchester City in the Champions League knockout phase play-offs that saw him net a stunning hat-trick in the Spanish capital.

Rodrygo played his part in Mbappe securing another match ball and Bellingham told CBS Sports afterwards of the South American’s value to the collective cause: “Rodrygo is so underrated. I think, for me, he’s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad. The things he can do with the football... We’ll be messing around and he’ll flick the ball up somehow and you’ll be like, ‘How did you do that?’.

“Another thing to mention is that he is the one that sacrifices the most. I think it’s clear that his favourite position is the left but it’s important to note that he does a lot for the team, defensively as well, on the right-hand side.”

Mbappe would also prefer to play down the left, but he has moved centrally due to the presence of Vinicius. Real have found a way of keeping everybody in their star-studded attacking unit happy, with Carlo Ancelotti allowing his front four to rotate and line up where they see fit, with a fluid tactical system now in place.