Although Jude is already a key player for Real Madrid, his boss still cannot believe how good he is

Braga's Municipal Stadium, one of the most recognisable stadiums in Europe, served as a sacred destination for football enthusiasts. Supported by steel cables, two stands are situated near the River Cavardo valley, an old quarry, and a striking cliff, forming an exceptional backdrop. It's astonishing to consider that this UNESCO World Heritage Site is entirely man-made, and on Tuesday, it bore witness to a manifestation of extraordinary talent.

On a night when tributes poured in for the late Bobby Charlton in Manchester, Jude Bellingham continued to demonstrate why he is one of the most promising English talents, aspiring to follow in the footsteps of the great Charlton. Receiving a pass from Vinicius Jr., Bellingham effortlessly slotted a curling shot just inside the far post, marking yet another goal and securing another match-winning performance for Real Madrid.

Bellingham has yet to go goalless in back-to-back games this season, notching his 11th goal in 12 matches, further strengthening Real Madrid's position in Champions League Group C. Among the big five European league sides, only Serhou Guirassy (15) and Lautaro Martinez (12) have scored more goals this season. He became the second player to score in each of his first three Champions League appearances for Real Madrid, a feat previously achieved by Christian Karembeu in 1998. This is also the second consecutive season in which he has scored in each of the first three matchdays, replicating his performance with Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

At just 20 years old, Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund, has a promising future ahead, potentially spanning three more World Cups. However, for now, his sights are set on his first El Clasico. Already, his signature celebration has been adopted by fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Bellingham has the opportunity to further endear himself to the Madridistas when Real faces Barcelona in their temporary home at the Olympic Stadium at Montjuic.

While Bellingham may be England's X-factor for years to come, at Real Madrid, it's all about the present, and manager Carlo Ancelotti deserves credit for how th Birmingham-born youngster has seamlessly adapted to the team. The Italaian has given Bellingham a pivotal role, and his surprise at the midfielder's abilities was evident following Bellingham's match-winning performance against Napoli earlier in the month.

"What is surprising about Bellingham is that he is only 20. It feels like he's 30—for his character, his personality. He is always focused on the match; he knows what he needs to do, and this is rare in a 20-year-old player. Then you have all his quality, his physical strength, his skills. It is surprising, we are all a bit surprised."

Throughout his career, Ancelotti has had the privilege of working with an array of extraordinary attacking talent, from Ronaldo to Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Bellingham, with his potential, is in the perfect environment to reach similar heights. His seamless integration into the team is a testament to Ancelotti's influence, and this was evident when Gareth Southgate utilised Bellingham in a recent European Qualifier against Italy, leaving out James Maddison, the Premier League's most influential player this season.

Ancelotti's commitment to Bellingham is further demonstrated by his restructuring of the team to accommodate the young midfielder. Bellingham is tasked with not only contributing goals but also filling the void left by Karim Benzema while smoothing the transition from the Kroos-Modric midfield axis.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga are also exciting prospects, but Bellingham, affectionately known as 'Belli' in the dressing room, has made the Madrid midfield his domain. Unlike previous British exports such as Gareth Bale and David Beckham, who joined Real Madrid later in their careers, Bellingham has become integral to the team's identity at an early stage. He is even picking up Spanish quickly.

Barcelona manager Xavi faces a challenge in trying to stop Bellingham, and his pre-match press conference will likely revolve around strategies to contain the young star. Despite concerns about his fitness after being substituted late in the game against Braga, Ancelotti reassured fans that it was nothing serious, merely a minor issue with his abductors. Belli is ready to shine in the biggest fixture.