Jude Bellingham sets Real Madrid record - but it's overshadowed by injury scare
Jude Bellingham scored twice and was influential in Real Madrid 's crushing 4-0 win over title rivals Girona but lasted less than an hour after injuring his ankle.
The England midfielder, 20, scored twice after Vinicius Junior notched a stunning opener to consolidate Los Blancos' place at the top of La Liga. Brazilian striker Rodrigo added a fourth in the 64th minute shortly after Bellingham asked to be substituted due to an ankle issue.
Bellingham's brace against Girona means the former Borussia Dortmund star has now scored more league goals in a single season than any other Real Madrid midfielder this century after taking his tally for the campaign to 20 in all competitions.
But the sight of him trudging off the Bernabeu pitch and watching the majority of the second-half with an ice pack on his ankle was far from a welcome one for Real and England fans alike.
Vinicius Junior, who assisted Bellingham's first goal, took the opportunity to sing the midfielder's praises after the match, branding him as "the best".
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Speaking post-match, the Brazilian forward said: "Jude is a star. He scores a lot of goals and I hope he can keep going. Jude has been the best this season. We're doing things well and we're happy because we're a family."
Real, who were behind Girona in the La Liga table until recently, have now gone 18 league matches without defeat: their longest unbeaten run since 2021.
Join the debate! What have you made of Bellingham at Real Madrid? Let us know here.
Bellingham scored twice in the win over Real Madrid's title rivals (Getty Images)Bellingham had been nursing a shoulder issue at the turn of the year and Carlo Ancelotti admitted he had substituted him to "avoid any problems" during a routine win over Villarreal in December.
The Real chief said: “Bellingham has been the protagonist because he has played very well and fought at all times. I have removed him to avoid problems. He has had a problem with his shoulder and when I can take minutes away from him, I’m going to do it.”
The midfielder's fitness will be of paramount importance to England manager Gareth Southgate as the matches between now and this summer's European Championships continue to be ticked off in the coming weeks.
Bellingham, who has won 27 caps for his country to date, is expected to be handed a prominent role by Southgate during the tournament, which kicks off in June in Germany.
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