Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he would be baffled if Jude Bellingham did not win France Football’s Ballon d’Or award in his career.
Ferdinand was among the United legends calling for the Red Devils to sign Bellingham, who has made a scintillating start to life at Real Madrid.
Bellingham was linked with a move to Old Trafford after emerging on the scene at Birmingham City, with ex-United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a big admirer of him.
However, the 20-year-old ex-Birmingham midfielder snubbed United and other Premier League clubs after he signed for Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
Bellingham announced himself to the world during his impressive spell in Germany, with the likes of United and Liverpool once again linked with him last summer.
However, it would be Madrid that would beat out fierce interest for Bellingham after they agreed a deal worth up to a whopping £115m to sign him from Dortmund.
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Bellingham at Madrid and breaking Cristiano Ronaldo record
Bellingham’s red-hot form from his Dortmund days has carried over to his time in the Spanish capital, with the ex-United target making a superb impact at Madrid.
The England midfielder, who is a key player for Carlo Ancelotti, has scored an impressive 11 times and registered two assists in 12 La Liga appearances for Madrid.
Bellingham has also scored three times and picked up an assist in three Champions League appearances, taking his total goalscoring tally at Madrid to 14 in 15 matches.
The Madrid star added his name to the scoresheet in his side’s 3-0 win over Cadiz on Sunday, with Bellingham now eclipsing a feat that Cristiano Ronaldo had achieved.
Bellingham’s goalscoring tally of 14 in 15 matches for Madrid is faster than any other player in the club’s history, with Ronaldo, Alfredo Di Stefano and Pruden all on 13.
Ferdinand in awe at Bellingham’s Madrid start
Bellingham has been tipped for a bright future for both club and country, with the Madrid midfielder expected to play a big role for England at Euro 2024 next summer.
The Los Blancos star already secured France Football’s Kopa Trophy at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony in October, coming out on top with a total of 90 points.
Bellingham even featured in the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or and finished in 18th place on five points, beating out the likes of Harry Kane and Andre Onana.
Ferdinand was in awe at the “unbelievable stat” of Bellingham beating the likes of Di Stefano and Ronaldo in goalscoring numbers at the beginning of a Madrid career.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he added that Bellingham would have to fall off the “biggest cliff ever” if he didn’t manage to win the Ballon d’Or at some point.
“Jude Bellingham, he’s broke the record for goals scored at the beginning of your Real Madrid career,” Ferdinand said on VIBE with FIVE.
“The top three are Jude Bellingham, second is Cristiano Ronaldo and third was [Alfredo] Di Stefano.
“That is an unbelievable stat that, ain’t it? If he doesn’t win it, he’s had to have fallen off the biggest cliff ever performance-wise.”