Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham took his personal tally to 24 combined Champions League goals and assists during Wednesday night’s thrashing of Red Bull Salzburg – the same haul as Lionel Messi managed the same age.

Bellingham inadvertently teed up Rodrygo’s opening goal in midweek, miscontrolling Vinicius Junior’s cross-field switch into the path of the Brazilian who lashed Madrid in front midway through the first half. The pair were emphatically on the same wavelength ten minutes later.

The England international back-heeled an impish pass between two encroaching Salzburg players for Rodrygo, who whipped a first-time finish into the bottom corner.

Madrid eventually romped to a 5-1 win, guaranteeing qualification to the knockout stages and prompting Carlo Ancelotti to gush: “The individual talent we have is immense.”

Bellingham’s talent is more immense than most. After Wednesday’s heroics, the 21-year-old boasts 13 Champions League assists on top of 11 goals in Europe’s premier club competition. Ex-Barcelona icon Messi, as was quickly pointed out by many Madrid-leaning onlookers, directly contributed to the same number of Champions League goals before turning 22, scoring 17 and teeing up seven.

The transcendent forward would eventually end his career in European football with 169 direct Champions League goal contributions (129 goals and 40 assists) – a tally only Cristiano Ronaldo can better. However, the Portuguese forward was a slow starter on the continental stage.

By the time Ronaldo turned 22 in February 2007, he had mustered a grand tally of zero Champions League goals and just six assists for Manchester United.

Neither Messi nor Bellingham lead the list of prolific prodigies among Europe’s elite. Erling Haaland piled up 26 direct contributions before turning 22, while Kylian Mbappe is out in front on his own with 37.

Bellingham doesn’t turn 22 until June, so has the rest of the season to try and make a dent in his teammate’s outrageous haul.

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