James Rodríguez and Isco are ‘legends’ in Jude Bellingham’s eyes

While awaiting the arrival of Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid fans are putting their faith in the magic of Jude Bellingham this term. Since he arrived in mid-2023, the 20-year-old midfielder has taken on a leading role and, alongside Vinícius Jr, has become a major figure in Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Twenty goals and eight assists reflect his impressive impact.

Of his 20 goals in the current campaign, 16 have come in LaLiga, a figure that took him past James Rodríguez’s record at Madrid. Bellingham became the Real Madrid midfielder with the most goals in a single LaLiga season in the 21st century.

The Englishman, therefore, moved to the top of a ranking that now has James in second place. It is worth remembering that the current Sao Paulo player scored 13 goals in the 2014/15 campaign, in what was his first year in the famous white shirt. In third place is Isco Alarcón, with 10 goals in 2016/17.

Recently, LaLiga highlighted Bellingham’s record with a post on Instagram in which they also recalled the Colombian’s 13 goals and the Spaniard’s 10. In that post, the Madrid midfielder responded with a comment praising them both. “Two legends,” he wrote.

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It is worth remembering that, adding his two spells together, James Rodríguez made 125 appearances, scored 37 goals and provided 42 assists for Real Madrid. Undoubtedly, his best season was under Carlo Ancelotti in 2014/15, a year in which he set the record now held by Bellingham.

The England player, meanwhile, still has three more months of the current campaign to extend his record. Real Madrid are still alive in two competitions, as they lead LaLiga by six points ahead of Girona and are in the last 16 of the Champions League (they beat RB Leipzig 1-0 in the first leg).