Wearing the No.5 shirt for Real Madrid and weaving his way through opposition defenders on his way to a masterful individual goal, it was hard not to invoke memories of Zinedine Zidane while watching Jude Bellingham take on Napoli in Tuesday's thrilling Champions League clash. Despite the French midfielder's legendary status, though, that might even be selling Belingham short on current form.
By netting Madrid's second goal in their 3-2 win, he became just the second Madrid player to score in their first two Champions League games for club. The only other man on that list? Cristiano Ronaldo.
To put Bellingham in Ronaldo's bracket after just nine games might seem foolish. Ronaldo, of course, spent nearly 10 years at Madrid, scored 450 goals, won La Liga twice, bagged four Champions Leagues, and took home the Ballon d'Or four times. Bellingham, by comparison, has had a prolific start, but Madrid have a meagre one-point lead atop La Liga. They are not the same kind of player, nor the same quality (yet).
It is, though, difficult to recall any player who has had such an instant impact on the 14-time European champions and the city that surrounds them Ronaldo arrived from Manchester United in 2009. For an ageing Madrid side who are on the hunt for their next Galactico, there is comfort to be found in the fact that their newest megastar looks to have arrived, and has the potential to reach Ronaldo-levels of impact on the team.
