Jude Bellingham wants to help team 'win trophies' as he hopes to 'pay homage' to Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham explained that his No. 5 shirt for Real Madrid is to “pay homage” to Zinedine Zidane, and after winning the Ballon d'Or Kopa Trophy insists he wants to “help Madrid and win trophies”.

Real Madrid sit top of La Liga after 11 games and Bellingham has been perhaps the standout player not just of the team, nor of the Spanish league, but of the whole 2023/24 season so far.

The 20-year-old has become a vital goalscorer for Carlo Ancelotti’s men with 13 goals in 13 games, and he claimed the trophy as the best young player in European football in Paris at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

After receiving the trophy, he said on stage: "I just wanted to thank everyone who helped me to get to this point: Birmingham City, Dortmund and now Madrid, the national team and most importantly my family: my mum and dad here tonight, my brother back home. Thank you for all the support, it means a lot."

He was asked about the start of his Real career, and he replied: "It’s been really good, I’ve been really welcomed by everyone at the club, my team-mates, the staff, everyone behind the scenes. I’m always confident in my ability but they really helped me.”

And of the famous No. 5 previously sported by Zidane, he answered: "There wasn’t much left so I had to take that, but it’s a lot of pressure and I wanted to take on and pay homage to one of my footballing idols."

Kylian Mbappe and Gavi, two of the recent winners were in the audience and they were joined by Gerd Muller Trophy winner Erling Haaland as well as David Beckham. Bellingham was honoured to be in such esteemed company.

He said: "It’s a great list of players, and it’s an honour to be in front of some of the best players in the world and some of the best to have ever played the game.

"To win this trophy means a lot but to me the most important is team honours. Now I’ve got this one, the most important thing is to kick on and help Madrid and win trophies for many years."

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