CORNERFLICK
Jude Bellingham has moved level with Kevin De Bruyne and David Beckham on 16 Champions League goals at the age of 23 after scoring against AEK Athens.
Early milestones and Madrid impact
Bellingham began scoring in the Champions League at Borussia Dortmund, where he netted his first goal in the competition against Manchester City in the 2020-21 season. That made him one of the youngest English scorers in the tournament's history.
After joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2023, his attacking role became more pronounced. He has also scored important goals during Madrid's run to the title.
Why the comparison stands out
Bellingham's record stands out because De Bruyne and Beckham were midfielders with strong attacking output. De Bruyne scored in the competition for Manchester City, while Beckham did so for Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Bellingham still has many years to add to that total, and his tally already puts him alongside two of the game's best-known midfield scorers.