Jude Bellingham backed to 'fight' like Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo for best player in the world title as Real Madrid sensation gets 'incredible' billing from Fabio Capello

Bellingham has rapidly emerged as one of the best players in the world after impressing at Real Madrid following a big-money summer move from Borussia Dortmund. The England star has 14 goals and three assists for Los Blancos in 18 La Liga games and has also picked up the Golden Boy award and the Kopa Trophy. Capello has been impressed by the young star and thinks he must be included in any future Ballon d'Or conversations.

Capello spoke about Bellingham when asked if Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are the two players best placed to take over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He told: Marca: "No, no, and Bellingham. For me the two footballers who are going to fight like Messi and Cristiano did are Mbappé and Bellingham."

The former Real Madrid boss went on to pile praise on the England international, adding: "He is a very complete player, he knows how to do everything. He does many things and he does them at a very high level, his quality is enormous. There are complete players but at a medium or high level, but Bellingham is complete at a very high level, capable of making a difference. He does things you can't imagine... Some passes he makes, some moves he makes are unique."

Bellingham has already beaten records laid down by Ronaldo at Madrid in his debut campaign and has said he wants more titles, goals and wins in 2024. He may be joined in the Spanish capital by Kylian Mbappe in the summer, while it has also been reported he has tried to recruit Haaland for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Real Madrid will have to cope without Bellingham next time out. The England international will serve a one-match ban against Las Palmas in La Liga after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Almeria.