Jude Bellingham has named the player he considers Real Madrid’s “most talented,” and surprisingly, it’s not superstar duo Vinicius Junior or Kylian Mbappe.
Despite a defensive injury crisis this season, Madrid’s squad remains stacked with stars, with much of the attention focused on Vinicius, Mbappe, and Bellingham, who has earned a reputation for scoring crucial goals in the dying moments of games.
However, there’s another player in Madrid’s forward line who consistently impresses. After the 3-1 win over Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League knockout tie, Bellingham praised the “very underrated” Rodrygo for his exceptional skills.
“For me, he is the most talented and gifted player on the team,” Bellingham told CBS Sports. “The things Rodrygo does with the ball, the tricks— I ask myself, ‘How does he do it?’ My ankles would buckle.”
Rodrygo joined Madrid in 2019, with his move secured when he was just 17, similar to Vinicius’ transfer from Flamengo. He had a breakout season in 2021/22, helping the club secure a rare La Liga and Champions League double.
Although he is typically a winger, Rodrygo spent much of last season in a central role, which he admitted he wasn’t fond of, but accepted it for the benefit of the team. Many expected him to make way for Mbappe this season, but Rodrygo has remained an integral part of the squad.
“Rodrygo is the one who sacrifices the most. He doesn’t complain, he just does it,” Bellingham added.
Like Vinicius, Rodrygo has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, with Al Hilal reportedly interested in signing him as a replacement for Neymar, who returned to Santos. However, earlier this month, Rodrygo made it clear he intends to “stay for many years” at Madrid.
