2023 Kopa Trophy Winner Jude Bellingham Weighs In On Taking Forward Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid Legacy

There is immense pressure for any young player to represent Real Madrid. However, former Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham has bagged the bull with both horns, making the opportunity his own. The player has been on an absolute roll following his move to the side. The player, following his move to the club, was allotted the number five jersey donned by club icon Zinedine Zidane. Bellingham has been off to a great start and wants to follow in the footsteps of the Frenchman.

The Englishman won the Kopa Trophy during the Ballon d’Or award ceremony following his exceptional stint with Borussia Dortmund in 2022. While addressing his win, the player then touched down on his reason behind picking the iconic jersey following his blockbuster transfer to Real Madrid.

Jude Bellingham pays homage to Zinedine Zidane

The Englishman seemed on cloud nine as he picked up the Kopa Trophy, beating the likes of Gavi and Jamal Musiala. While talking about his enormous accolade, they asked Jude to comment on his move to Real Madrid, and he opened up on his thought process behind picking the same jersey number as Zinedine Zidane.

Jude Bellingham, taking Zinedine Zidane’s No.5 shirt at Real Madrid, stated, “There wasn’t much else left! It’s adds a little bit of pressure but I wanted to pay homage to one of my idols.”

It is safe to say the player has done a great job of honoring the legacy left by Zinedine Zidane. The legendary Frenchman made 243 appearances, with the club bagging multiple accolades. Zidane, during his time with Madrid, also bagged 44 goals and 66 assists, completing a successful time at the Spanish capital.

While it is still early days, the player has already left his mark on Real Madrid. With the side splurging a massive $100 million plus on the player’s signing, there were many concerns that Jude Bellingham could deliver up on the enormous hype following his arrival.

READ MORE: Jude Bellingham Wins 2023 Kopa Trophy at Ballon d’Or Ceremony in Paris

However, the player has shattered all expectations. The player has been worth every penny for the Spanish club, and the side will hope that the English star continues to carry on the same form in the coming games. The former Borussia Dortmund man made an iconic El Clasico debut in his last outing to stun FC Barcelona as he helped Real Madrid bag the win away from home.

Bellingham sets La Liga on fire!

The player has been a difference-maker for Los Blancos this season, pulling them out of precarious situations. Bellingham has been nothing short of sublime for his side, bagging ten goals for Real Madrid this season. With Madrid trailing behind Barcelona by a goal, the English star found the equalizer for his side in the 68th minute to level the scores.

With the game levelled, both teams were heading towards a 1-1 draw with just minutes left into the game. However, Bellingham did the absolute unthinkable as he scored once again, this time in the 90+2nd minute of the game, to help Madrid bag the win away from home.

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What did you think of Jude Bellingham’s performance in his debut El Clasico? Let us know in the comments below.