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Jude Bellingham says Rodrygo leaves him in awe. The Real Madrid midfielder counts the very best players in the world as teammates, including Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, but Bellingham was keen to ensure people know there are more jewels in their crown than those two. Mbappe stole the show with a sensational hat-trick during the week to send Manchester City crashing out of the Champions League, while both he and Brazil international Vinicius are leading Ballon d'Or contenders. Winger Rodrygo, meanwhile, has been a mainstay in the Madrid team since the 24-year-old's arrival from Santos in 2019, making more than 250 appearances and helping the club to three Champions League triumphs in this time. Speaking to CBS Sports after the win over City, Bellingham said: "Rodrygo is so underrated. "For me, he’s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad. “The things he can do with the football. We’ll be messing around, and he’ll flick the ball up somehow, and you’re thinking: 'How’d he do that? ' "I’m twisting my ankles if I try that! " On playing alongside both the Brazilian and Mbappe, the 21-year-old added: "It’s a pleasure to play with both of them. “You put them in positions where they can affect the games, and they will win it for you. " Bellingham was also quick to highlight Rodrygo's defensive work rate when stressing his importance to the Madrid team. He continued: “I think Rodrygo, another thing to mention, is that he’s the one who sacrifices the most, really. It’s clear that his favourite position is on the left. "It’s important to note that he does a lot for the team defensively on the right side, which isn’t his favourite. "But he never complains, he just gets on with it and that’s the way we have to continue. ” While the Brazil star's central role in the Madrid side is clear, it is arguably his selfless work which sees him overlooked in the discussion over the world's top performing players. Among the 2025 Ballon d'Or favourites are teammates Bellingham, Mbappe and Vinicius, as well as Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah. Rodrygo has registered 12 goals and nine assists for the reigning European champions this term, placing him third in both their goalscoring and assist charts. Mbappe leads the way with 27 goals in 37 games, ahead of Vinicius, who has netted 16 times, who has provided the most assists with 12. Bellingham is also hot on Rodrygo's heels, having scored on 11 occasions from midfield, and has set up a further 10 goals. Meanwhile Salah's fine individual campaign has seen him record 49 goal contributions already this term, with 29 goals and 20 assists. In five years in the Spanish capital, Rodrygo has netted on 67 occasions, and laid on 49 goals for his teammates. And while Bellingham made his thoughts on the forward clear, he also hailed Mbappe's impact in Madrid, having recovered from a slow start which saw him fail to score in his first three league games. He said: "Everyone knows what a special player he is. "That start of the season was difficult for him, adjusting to a new team, incredible pressure, unimaginable for most players. "But it was only a matter of time before he got started and when the goals came, it was always going to be a different level of player. "You give him the ball in any situation and he can make something of it. The speed, linking up with Vini, it’s really terrifying for most defenders to play against. " © 2025 talk SPORT Limited

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