Jude Bellingham has been tipped to beat Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the race to inherit Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s “throne”.

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England ace joined Blancos for big moneyMade an immediate impact in SpainConsidered to sit among the global eliteWHAT HAPPENED?

The England international midfielder has made a stunning impact at Real Madrid following his €103 million (£89m/$109m) summer transfer from Borussia Dortmund. The talented 20-year-old has hit 10 goals for the Blancos through as many appearances, with that strike rate allowing him to emulate the efforts of Portuguese icon Ronaldo at Santiago Bernabeu.

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Bellingham is now considered to sit among the global elite, with Real Madrid legend Guti of the opinion that the crown occupied by Messi and Ronaldo for the best part of two decades can be inherited by someone other than prolific Manchester City striker Haaland and jet-heeled Paris Saint-Germain forward Mbappe.

WHAT THEY SAID

Guti has told – while taking a sly dig at Mbappe, who is yet to make his way to the Spanish capital despite plenty of speculation to suggest that such a move is on the cards: “Madrid fans love Bellingham so much because he did want to come to Real Madrid. After the controversy that there has been with another player… Bellingham is playing some incredible games. It was the throne of Vinicius, Mbappe, Haaland… but Bellingham is the only one who has realised that the throne of Messi and Cristiano is free, and he is going for it.”

GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Inter Miami superstar Messi is in line to win his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023, while Ronaldo has five of those honours to his name, but a new generation of talent is emerging and Bellingham is expected to challenge the likes of Haaland and Mbappe in years to come for the most prestigious of Golden Balls – with the English star already the favourite to claim the Golden Boy prize this year.