Bellingham's Champions League Milestone Overshadowed as Liverpool Crush Real Madrid Dreams
Jude Bellingham marked his 50th Champions League match on Tuesday evening, surpassing Real Madrid icon Iker Casillas to become the youngest player in history to reach this milestone.
The England midfielder made his Champions League bow at merely 17 years of age with Borussia Dortmund in October 2020. Since then, Bellingham has crafted numerous memorable moments throughout his European journey.
Across his 50 Champions League matches, Bellingham has netted 14 goals while providing 13 assists. He was also instrumental in Real Madrid securing their record-breaking 15th Champions League trophy in 2023–24 during his inaugural campaign with the Spanish giants.
Jude Bellingham is the youngest player in history to reach 50 #UCL appearances 👏 pic.twitter.com/5bbIETn02V
However, on the evening marking his 50th Champions League outing, Bellingham and Real Madrid were frustrated. Liverpool triumphed over Los Blancos 2–0 at Anfield in a disappointing display from Carlo Ancelotti's team.
Liverpool's midfield successfully neutralized Bellingham, who struggled to make an offensive contribution and found himself frequently dropping deep to help defensively.
Nonetheless, this represents a remarkable accomplishment for Bellingham, who has developed into one of the finest midfielders and complete players globally before reaching his 23rd birthday.
Youngest Players to Reach 50 Champions League Appearances
Player | Age | Team |
|---|---|---|
Jude Bellingham | 22 years, 28 days | Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid |
Iker Casillas | 22 years, 155 days | Real Madrid |
Cesc Fàbregas | 22 years, 331 days | Arsenal |
Kylian Mbappé | 22 years, 339 days | Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain |
Lionel Messi | 23 years, 166 days | Barcelona |
Jude Bellingham Scoring Streak Snapped in Real Madrid Defeat
Bellingham witnessed his three-match scoring run end against Liverpool, marking his finest goalscoring form throughout 2025.
The Reds effectively restricted the impact of not just Bellingham, but Real Madrid's entire offensive unit. Kylian Mbappé, who had found the net in 14 of his previous 15 matches for club and country, managed zero shots on target.
Bellingham's knack for scoring had been evident in his previous three outings for Los Blancos. He netted the decisive goal in Madrid's victory over Juventus in their last Champions League fixture, then delivered the winning strike against Barcelona in the season's opening El Clásico.
He subsequently scored a spectacular goal as Ancelotti's squad secured a commanding 4–0 triumph over Valencia last weekend, highlighting his exceptional form since recovering from injury.
After the setback at Anfield, Bellingham and Real Madrid will look to bounce back when they travel to face city neighbors Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in their final fixture before the November international window.