Real Madrid talisman surpasses club legend to become youngest player to reach 50 UCL appearances | OneFootball

On his return to England today, Real Madrid midfield superstar Jude Bellingham has been named in the starting XI to face Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.

It will mark the 22-year-old superstar’s 50th appearance in the Champions League – which now makes him the youngest-ever to reach that landmark in the history of the competition.

Indeed, Bellingham, aged 22 years and 128 days, has now become the youngest ever footballer to make 50 appearances in Europe’s premier competition.

In doing so, the England international surpasses Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas, who held that special record until today, having played his 50th UCL match at the age of 22 years and 155 days.

Bellingham also goes past some other icons of the game such as former Arsenal and Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas (22 years and 331 days) and another ex-Barça ace Lionel Messi (23 years and 166 days).

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old midfielder’s current Real Madrid teammate, Kylian Mbappe, reached the milestone at the age of 22 years and 339 days.

Bellingham made his Champions League debut all the way back in 2020, when he was only 17 years old, featuring for Borussia Dortmund against Lazio in a game that ended in a 3-1 loss for his team.

Before today, he had made 49 appearances in Europe’s top competition, scoring 14 and assisting 13 goals, even winning the trophy in his very first season at Real Madrid.