Bellingham equals Messi UCL record after starring in Real's win over Salzburg

Jude Bellingham has equalled one of Lionel Messi's legendary Champions League records after playing a starring role in Real Madrid's 5-1 demolition job of RB Salzburg.

The England international appears to have firmly put early season struggles behind him as Madrid continue to impress since the turn of the year and sit top of the LaLiga standings.

However, the reigning champions have struggled in the newly-formatted Champions League this season and desperately needed to beat Salzburg to remain in with a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages automatically.

Madrid are currently 16th in the Champions League standings and will have to reach the next stages of the competition via a playoff contest if they fail to climb into the top eight when they play Brest.

Bellingham is integral to those efforts and having again been given more creative licence to get higher up the pitch than what Carlo Ancelotti was permitting earlier in the season, is now unlocking opposition defences.

Against Salzburg, Bellingham registered two assists chipping in both of Rodrygo's goals as Madrid took control of the tie in the first-half.

Those assists moved Bellingham level with Argentina and Barcelona legend Messi in Champions League goal contributions for players aged 21 and under.

The Madrid superstar now has 24 Champions League goal contributions aged 21 years, six months and 24 days.

Messi previously scored 17 goals and registered seven assists at the age of 21 or under during his breakthrough years at Barcelona.

However, two current blockbuster names have already smashed those records, with one of the duo playing alongside Bellingham at Madrid.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland is second in the standings having recorded 26 goal contributions before reaching 22-years-old.

But, Kylian Mbappe - who scored once in Madrid's win over Salzburg - previously managed 37 contributions at the same age and holds the record for the most under the age of 21.

Bellingham has now chipped in with 32 goals and 22 assists since moving to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2023.

His stunning efforts last season played a vital role in helping Madrid win both the Champions League and LaLiga titles during his debut year in Spain.