How Jude Bellingham became the world’s best player overnight

Jude Bellingham has become the best player in the world less than six months after signing for Real Madrid. Only three years ago he was playing for Birmingham City in the Championship.

As Seb Stafford-Bloor writes, Bellingham’s ascent has been rapid, but his evolving role in many different systems and under different managers have given him the tools to be elite at Real Madrid.

Illustrated by Marco Bevilacqua.

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#Bellingham #RealMadrid #England

[GeekSpeakShow]

His transfer fee to Dortmund basically saved my club. Although I do think retiring the no. 22 was silly, we owe a debt of gratitude to Jude and his family that Birmingham City can never repay

[Champ]

He has the perfect coach right now in Ancelotti, who gives players the freedom to express themselves in their best roles. Great to see.

[arshavindrameh]

Jude Bellingham’s ability to be a goal scoring midfielder is something else
A 20 year old kid from Birmingham is already the best player at the moment in Real Madrid’s super team.
PHENOMENAL ✨

[DamienWongHK]

The fact that he adapted a new role immediately playing for Real Madrid, one of if not the best teams in Europe, and in La Liga, one of if not the best leagues, is insane.

[yoditan]

He’s honestly exceeded expectations. But if Real Madrid buys a number 9 I think his role might change again to more if a number 8 depending on what type of number 9 they get.

[ThereAndBenAgain]

Fantastic graphics throughout. Thank you Tifo team. Also, great story. Fascinating how Bellingham has begun the season

[thMandalorian]

Since playing alongside a legend of the game in Joselu he really has stepped up.

[hollins]

Thanks for reminding me that my BVB got worse every year...
What a great player and what a pleasure it was to have him in Dortmund. I hope we'll play against Real in the Champions League so he will feel the joy again of playing in the worlds best arena.

[emiliohugues]

I think the most notable aspect of Bellingham is his maturity. The guy is well spokne, uncontroversial and sheer likeable. As a cule I should dread him (I do dread his clutchness), but it is impossible.

[jakelfc]

Even if he doesn't play as centrally in a five man midfield, he has the confidence to help get your team further up the pitch. I think of Trequista's doing that, attacking midfielders struggle to do that if the players ahead of them aren't strong - he can, that's why he has been compared to Kaka (who was also the world's best player briefly).

[humanities]

The fact is that not only is he playing in the best club in the world but his teammates and manager are all world class players. He’s truly the best talent that England have produced in a long time. A class act!

[kevinerex]

Remember how people said, that he is the new Zidane. Now people say he is new Ronaldo. He really got it both ways

[RL-]

I love how he has this new, free kind of role and he still gets through a ton of defensive work – more in the defensive third than the attacking third. There's no quality more admirable in football than hard work and professionalism, regardless of talent level. It seems to illustrate how grateful some players are that they can do this for a living. For a young man who's got the world at his feet, in a sport where money, fame and ego can be a star's downfall, it's even more impressive to me.

[leobestbote]

When Birmingham City FC retired his jersey number in recognition of his qaulities I thought they were crazy but after his Madrid stint thus far I'm like wait a minute let's see.... they might have been on to something

[MuhammadImHardBruceLee]

He is filling a void left by Messi and Ronaldo... The void being one where (young) fans of Madrid and Barcelona have been conditioned to need a football hero, a god...someone to follow.

There have been better players at these clubs but Bellingham is the perfect product of the times, when players get to big clubs sooner.

[Ggggggaj]

If Jude continues to play like this throughout the season, wins the treble, top scorer in UCL, top scorer in La Liga, wins the euros, wins puskas, wins World Cup, cures cancer, ends world hunger — then Messi will win the ballon D’or

[King_Cassidy]

He’s been sublime and definitely will be in contention for best in the world for years to come, but crowning him as that now is pretty strong. Relax.

[nsoper]

reminds me a bit of frank lampard. Late runs into the box scoring goals and also banging them in from range.

[kipzonderkop]

Big up Stourbridge 🙌🏼 can’t believe such a talent comes from my local area

[oslonorway]

OVERNIGHT? They retired his number at Birmingham. What club retires a young player's number? That is how immense his contribution has always been to a team.