Real Madrid’s midfielder, Jude Bellingham, isn’t daunted by the immense pressure associated with the historic figures who have graced the Bernabeu before him; instead, he welcomes it.
Surpassing even the expectations set by his €134m price tag, Bellingham has broken records previously held by Madrid legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Alfredo Di Stefano. Upon his arrival in the Spanish capital, comparisons naturally arose with another great, Zinedine Zidane, as Bellingham inherited the iconic number five shirt once worn by the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner and three-time FIFA World Player of the Year.
The choice of the number, unusual for attacking players, echoes Zidane’s own surprising adoption of the same jersey after his world-record transfer to Madrid in 2001. To further emphasize the connection, Bellingham even dons the latest generation of the iconic adidas Predator boots that Zidane favored.
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“Zidane is one of the best midfielders in history. I hope to uphold the legacy of his number and his boots,” expressed Bellingham this week, according to Marca.
Reflecting on the significance, he added, “For what it means and the moment, Zidane’s volley [against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002] is the first and best memory that comes to mind with these boots.”
Bellingham’s hunger for success aligns seamlessly with Real Madrid’s illustrious history, having won more European Cups (14) than any other club – twice as many as the next team on the list. Recently honored with the Golden Boy for 2023, Bellingham became the first English player in nine years to receive the prestigious award.
He admitted that previous second-place finishes served as a significant motivation, stating, “Winning trophies like the Golden Boy has come naturally. I had been second twice, and the truth is that I didn’t like it. You take it personally when you don’t win. For me, it was about keeping pushing, keeping trying, and in the end, I got it.”