JUDE BELLINGHAM equalled one of Lionel Messi’s Champions League records with his latest stunning performance.
Real Madrid’s England superstar, 21, continued his red-hot form with two assists as Los Blancos hammered RB Salzburg on Wednesday.
Bellingham is now level with Barcelona icon Messi in Champions League goal contributions for players aged 21 and under.
The ex-Dortmund ace has 24 contributions aged 21 years, six months and 24 days – with Messi previously scoring 17 goals and registering seven assists by the same age.
Though the blockbuster duo are not top of the pile with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland above them having recorded 26 goal contributions before reaching 22.
But it is Bellingham’s Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappe who holds the record having produced 37 contributions at the same age.
Both men will have to be at their best next week against Brest and hope results go their way to ensure automatic qualification into the last-16.
Holders Madrid sit 16th in the new Champions League standings.
They will have to navigate a play-off if they fail to finish in the top eight.
Madrid’s 5-1 win on Wednesday night was their fourth in the revamped tournament.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti has 18 months remaining on his contract at the Bernabeu.
And before the game, he directly addressed reports he was preparing to step down in the summer.
Ancelotti said: “I want to be very clear.
“The date of departure from this club will never be decided by me, never in my life.
“Someday that time will come, but I don’t know when it will be. I don’t decide.
“It could be tomorrow, in a few games, in a year, in five years.
“Florentino [Perez] will remain here for four more years and my goal is to reach Florentino’s four years and so we say goodbye together.”
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