Jude Bellingham has never hidden his admiration for Lionel Messi. When asked to choose between the Argentine icon and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Real Madrid midfielder didn’t hesitate.
At just 21, Bellingham has already established himself as one of the best midfielders in world football. He delivered a standout 2023–24 season, scoring 23 goals and registering 13 assists while helping Real Madrid win LaLiga, the Supercopa de España, and the UEFA Champions League.
Growing up during the Messi and Ronaldo era, Bellingham, like many others of his generation, looked up to both legends. However, during his time at Borussia Dortmund, he made it clear who stood out more to him.
Bellingham said:
“Messi for me, for sure. You can just watch him and think like ‘How does he do that?’ Every time I watch him, he just does something that I just think ‘You can’t be human.’”
Messi and Ronaldo have each scored over 800 goals for club and country and together have claimed 13 Ballon d’Or titles. Messi has won eight, while Ronaldo has taken home five.
Today, the two icons continue to impress in different parts of the world. Messi is leading the way at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, and Ronaldo is still delivering at a high level for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Despite their age, they continue to set the bar for excellence.
