Jude Bellingham's dream first season at Real Madrid could be set for a memorable new high on Saturday when the Spanish giants attempt to become Champions League winners for a record-extending 15th time.
Real go into the clash at Wembley Stadium as overwhelming favourites against Bellingham's former club Borussia Dortmund having already secured a 36th La Liga title – another record – after finishing 10 points clear of rivals Barcelona.
Leading that charge to yet another Spanish crown was their €103 million summer signing from Germany, whose 19 goals in 28 appearances made him the surprise third top scorer in La Liga – level with Barca goal machine Robert Lewandowski and behind only Villarreal's Alexander Sorloth (23) and Artem Dovbyk (24) of third-placed Girona.
Bellingham's efforts saw him named La Liga's Player of the Season this week, beating teammate Vinicius Junior, Dovbyk, Lewandowski and Antoine Griezmann at Atletico Madrid to the award after coming top in a vote by fans, club captains and a panel of experts.
It is the second individual award of the season after the midfielder picked up the World Breakthrough of the Year prize at the Laureus World Sports Awards in April, when he made clear his target for the rest of the campaign was “more trophies” – meaning a treble of La Liga, Champions League and the European Championship with England.
It is this drive for success that has impressed his Madrid teammates. “Our fans got used to Cristiano Ronaldo, now they have Jude,” gushed Vinicius Junior. “Bellingham was born to play for Real Madrid.”
“Jude has shown to everyone what kind of player and what kind of talent he is,” hailed veteran midfielder Luka Modric this week. “But what surprised me 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.”
Real's German defender Antonio Rudiger has been equally impressed. “I have to be very honest, before, I didn’t really know much about him,” admitted the former Chelsea centre-half. “He kind of took everyone by surprise because to come here at the age of 20 and deliver like he has so far, I have to give him kudos for this.”
Next stop in his treble quest comes against the club where Bellingham made his name and showed the form that would earn the big-money move to Spain.
Bellingham made huge strides in all of his three years in Germany after moving from English second-tier side Birmingham City, showing remarkable maturity for a teenager living outside his home country for the first time, which resulted in him being included in a captaincy group alongside Marco Reus and Mats Hummels.
He was described as “the oldest 19 year old I’ve ever seen,” by manager Edin Terzic, leading out the team at that young age against Cologne in October 2022, becoming the youngest captain in German top-flight history and finished his Dortmund career with 24 goals in 132 appearances.
His final campaign saw Dortmund agonisingly miss out on the title to Bayern Munich on the final weekend, but Bellingham's form saw him named Bundesliga player of the season and Real would come calling weeks later.
Real beat Bayern in CL second leg – player ratings
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REAL MADRID RATINGS: Kept place despite Courtois’ return and reacted well to tip Kane volley wide for corner that might have crept in. Saved shot low down at his near post from same player after break and turned a Musiala strike over bar for corner. AP -
Caused chaos in opposition box in opening 15 minutes, sent cross across box that missed Rodrigo’s boot by centimetres, then nutmegged Musiala to set-up chance for Vinicius. EPA -
Could not stop Davies cutting inside from left before Bayern substitute sent superb finish into top corner. Curled ball over defence to Vinicius but Brazilian sent half-volley over bar. Picked out Joselu with cross for winner. EPA -
Good performance at back from captain, although blatantly pushed Kimmich in face ahead of Real putting ball into net via deflected cross that would have made it 1-1. Getty Images -
Shoved out of way by Kane early in second half with England captain then forcing save out of Lunin but generally solid evening’s work from left-back up against a lacklustre opponent in Sane. EPA -
French midfielder kept things simple in middle of park, winning tackles and getting the ball as quickly as possible to attacking players. AFP -
Star turn of first leg was pinging superb diagonal balls out to feet of widemen from opening minutes. Made vital interception on Kane through ball. Not as much impact as in Munich but still quality. Getty Images -
Playing 50th game of season for Real, Uruguayan's workrate was exemplary as always and linked up well with teammates. EPA -
Some nice moments and silky first touches but, like first leg, relatively quiet game from England midfielder. A Champions League final and La Liga title in his first season at Los Blancos, though. Reuters -
Brazilian struck inside of post from tight angle. Almost scored with curling cross that missed teammates but forced Neuer into save in opening 45 minutes. Saw another effort superbly saved by German keeper and ran Bayern ragged second half. Getty Images -
First to rebound after Vinicius struck post but denied goal by excellent Neuer stop in opening half. Saw nice first-time finish fly just wide of post and then free-kick saved well by Neuer. EPA -
SUBS: (On for Kroos 70’) Classy cameo from midfielder in what could be his final season at club. AP -
(On for Tchouameni 70’) Booked for kicking ball away deep into injury time but did well after coming and gave boost to Real engine room. Getty Images -
(On for Rorygo 81’) PA -
(On for Valverde 81’) Fairy-tale introduction for veteran who scored two close-range finishes in matter of minutes to take Real through to 18th European Cup final. AFP -
(On for Bellingham 90+9’) Reuters -
BAYERN MUNICH RATINGS: Veteran had produced four or five quality stops only to spill routine Vinicius effort that allowed Joselu to tap home late leveller and spark Real's stunning late comeback. AP -
Given torrid time by Vinicius after break as Brazilian flew past him at will. Shoved in face by Nacho, going down as he’d been hit with hammer, which resulted in Real goal being disallowed. AFP -
Missed first game due to injury and looked far more reliable at back than the man he replaced, Kim Min-jae. Had ball in back of Real net in 14th minute of injury time but referee had blown for offside. AFP -
English defender has been excellent since joining Bayern and continued that form in Madrid up against Real's dangerous attackers. AFP -
Beaten for pace by Rodrygo early on as Brazilian then setting up chance for countryman Vinicius. Curled strike from distance straight at Lunin. Switched flanks in second-half reshuffle to try and curb threat of Vinicius. AFP -
Surprise starter ahead of Goretzka but lived up to his manager’s faith. Hoovered up in front of defence and gave Bayern steel in midfield alongside Laimer. Getty Images -
Midfielder was outstanding in his defensive work throughout. Made numerous key interceptions and tackles. Almost picked out Kane with through ball just before break. Reuters -
Tried and failed to set up Kane for opening goal when he could actually have shot himself. Just returned to team after injury but forced off in opening half hour with what looked like hamstring problem. Reuters -
First attempt on goal came in 65th minute when Lunin turned his left-footed strike over bar for corner, Lively but Bayern needed more threat in front of goal. AP -
Poor start with misplaced passes and slack control which set tone for rest of game. Could easily have been hooked at half-time without any complaints. Failed to track back and help Kimmich after break who was being tormented by Vinicius. Reuters -
Saw brilliant dipping volley tipped round post by keeper with his only attempt at goal in first half. Denied by keeper again with strike at near post from narrow angle early in second. Taken off late on with Bayern 1-0 up. Getty Images -
SUBS: (On for Gnabry 28’) Saw deflected cross fly just over crossbar at start of second half then opened the scoring completely against run of play with super sweet left-footed strike. AP -
(On for Sane 76’) Headed against crossbar although referee had blown for foul on keeper. Reuters -
(On for Musiala 85’) Getty Images -
(On for Kane 85’) AP
And it is a sign of just how much he has progressed in Madrid in less than a year that he already has 23 goals across all competitions with a game still to play. While his scoring exploits tailed off in the second half of the season, Bellingham still played a key role in Real's knockout stage success that saw them beat RB Leipzig, holders Manchester City and Bayern Munich all by a single goal over two legs.
And now it is Dortmund standing in the way of a La Liga and Champions League double for Real and Bellingham. “It’s such a big game, my first Champions League final, back home in England against my old team – it’s a crazy one, I couldn’t have dreamt it any better,” he told reporters this week.
“What you've seen from me this year is a lot of different kinds of roles and positions. I came here because I wanted to win, and to expect it, it's a bit greedy almost, but you have to be confident when you're playing with so many great players.”
While enduring a tough time domestically – finishing in fifth place, 27 points behind unbeaten champions Bayer Leverkusen – Dortmund have enjoyed something of a fairy-tale Champions League run.
After losing to French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the opening match of their 'Group of Death' – that also included Italian giants AC Milan and Saudi Arabian-backed English side Newcastle United – Dortmund would go on to finish top of the table.
PSV Eindhoven, Atletico Madrid and PSG were then defeated in the knockout stages to seal their final place at Wembley as they look to lift the European Cup for only a second time.
“We're up against the ultimate opponent, a team that has already won this title 14 times and five times in the last 10 years, but none of that matters,” said coach Terzic on Tuesday. “We want to boil everything down to one game and the final is just one game anyway.
“Anything is possible in one game, we've proven that, especially this season, in this competition. Even though they've won eight finals in a row, the only thing that counts is what happens in this one.”
