The joy of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or contenders

Not many teams get to enjoy two Ballon d’Or candidates playing for them at once. But that is the case for Real Madrid, where Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior could feasibly finish first and second in the standings for the prestigious individual award later this year.

While Madrid wait for their most important game of the season, the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1, much of the interest in their remaining La Liga games is in watching both players shine. And they didn’t disappoint against Deportivo Alaves — with Vinicius Jr scoring twice and Bellingham providing a goal and two assists in a 5-0 win.

This was a chance for Madrid to lift their record-extending 36th La Liga title at the Santiago Bernabeu after they received the trophy behind closed doors last Sunday and celebrated at the city’s iconic Plaza Cibeles. There were decorations around the ground alluding to the number of top-flight trophies, but it was clear who everyone had come to see.

Bellingham performed his usual pre-match ritual before kick-off, wandering around the pitch before he changed into his kit, imagining moves and greeting fans and acquaintances.

The game last night was special for him given his brother and Sunderland forward Jobe was in the stands with his mother Denise and his father Mark. Denise lives with him in Madrid and attends all of Jude’s home games while Mark splits his time between England and Spain. Here, his father could be seen mimicking his son’s favourite celebration, arms outstretched.

Vinicius Jr’s ritual begins just before he steps on to the pitch, when his name is the last to be called as the lineups are announced over the Bernabeu loudspeaker. It is a conscious choice from the club who want to ensure their most outstanding player receives the loudest support — at the start of the season it was reserved for Bellingham.

The Brazilian caused the first murmurs of excitement in the fifth minute when he produced an elegant back-heel control. Vinicius Jr was soon setting up Bellingham to fire home with the outside of his boot, although it didn’t count due to a foul by Ferland Mendy in attack.

It didn’t matter — Bellingham opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Toni Kroos controlled and looked up, before playing an inch-perfect ball into the Englishman. It was hard to tell whether Bellingham meant to loft a cross-shot into the back of the net, but nobody at the Bernabeu cared.

It was Bellingham’s 19th La Liga goal in his 27th game of the season. Only Ronaldo Nazario (23), Ruud van Nistelrooy (25) and Cristiano Ronaldo (26) have scored more in their debut campaign with Los Blancos this century.

🎞️ @BellinghamJude 🎞️#RealMadridAlavés pic.twitter.com/p6TEc7zn9Z

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 14, 2024

Focus turned to Vinicius Jr, who was pushing for a goal, urged on by chants of “Vinicius, Ballon d’Or!”. Eduardo Camavinga set up the winger with a fine dart into the box in the 27th minute and he had his opening effort.

Bellingham turned provider in stoppage time just before the break, assisting Federico Valverde’s crashing drive to make it four La Liga games in which he has scored and assisted this season — more than anyone else.

But the midfielder came off the pitch at half-time a little disgruntled. He had equalled Villarreal’s second-placed Alexander Sorloth in the top scorer standings (known as the Pichichi in La Liga after the legendary Athletic Bilbao striker of that nickname) with 19 goals and was one behind Artem Dobvyk’s 20 for Girona. He wanted more.

“We are not thinking about this,” Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said before the match. “Bellingham’s goal has already been achieved — helping the team and surprising everyone. The Pichichi is not important for us.”

But watching his player, it was clear that was not the case. He looked frustrated when Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo showed flashes of selfishness and called on his team-mates to be quicker when the ball went out wide or Madrid won a foul.

That ended up benefitting Vinicius Jr. Bellingham produced the pass that led to the 23-year-old’s whipped effort into the near post to make it 4-0, after which he celebrated by leaning on the corner flag. Despite missing 12 games through injury this season, Vinicius Jr has equalled his best scoring tally in a season, 23 from last campaign.

“He can’t do better than that,” Ancelotti said.

In the mixed zone, Eder Militao was asked which of his fellow Brazilian or Bellingham should win the Ballon d’Or. “Vinicius,” he answered.

Vinicius Jr has equalled his best scoring tally in a season (Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

This summer could go a long way in deciding who comes out on top. Vinicius Jr and Bellingham will be playing for their countries at the Copa America in the United States and the European Championship in Germany. Brazil and England will be among the favourites at those tournaments.

For now, however, it is simply a joy to watch them push each other to greater things at Madrid. When Karim Benzema left for Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad a year ago, Vinicius Jr became the side’s de facto star player.

But the big investment in Bellingham — who could become the most expensive signing in the club’s history after joining for €103million (£89.6m) plus around 30 per cent in variables — the 20-year-old’s instant impact and Vinicius Jr’s two muscular injuries at the start of the campaign elevated the Englishman to that status.

They have dovetailed up top since Vinicus Jr’s return and their numbers in all competitions are remarkably similar. Vinicius Jr has 23 goals and 11 assists in 2,904 minutes of action, while Bellingham has 23 goals and 12 assists in 3,469 minutes. The Brazilian averages a goal contribution roughly every 85 minutes; the Englishman one every 99.

On Sunday, they were together at Madrid’s open-top bus celebrations across the city.

“I’m happy, here with the best player in the world,” Bellingham said in Spanish, as he hugged Vinicius Jr.

It seemed to be a direct response to rumours earlier in the season that suggested they had got off on the wrong footing. “They are like best friends,” a source with knowledge of the situation, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, told The Athletic.

“I’m a big fan of Bellingham,” Vinicius Jr said after the Alaves game. “I did everything I could to get him to come to Real Madrid — hopefully he can be the top scorer in La Liga.”

As long as the two are combining on the pitch, Madrid fans will be happy. And with Kylian Mbappe expected to join from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, opposition defences will be even more concerned.

(Top photo by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)