'Second to none' - Real Madrid star Luka Modric reveals what surprised him most about team-mate Jude Bellingham after sensational debut campaign

Bellingham has scored an outstanding 23 goals and made 12 assists in all competitions to help fire Madrid to La Liga success and the Champions League final in his first season since joining the Spanish giants from Borussia Dortmund.

Modric has been impressed by the 20-year-old for many reasons throughout the campaign, but it is his mentality and his work in training that has earned the most praise from the Croatian veteran, citing his football IQ as another excellent trait.

He told TNT Sports: "Jude has shown to everyone what kind of player and what kind of talent he is, but what surprised me most about him, because I didn't know him when I saw him playing and I heard the things about him, was his mentality. His work ethic is second to none. He is amazing every training session, every game. His winning mentality is what impressed me most apart from his football IQ."

The veteran midfielder and the youngster will look to complete the European and domestic double this week when they come up against Dortmund in the Champions League final. They will then turn their attention to Euro 2024, with Modric in action for Croatia while Bellingham will compete with England.