Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard hails Jude Bellingham after key Real Madrid milestone: ‘I love his hunger’

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard hails Jude Bellingham after key Real Madrid milestone: ‘I love his hunger’ Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard has delivered a glowing assessment of Jude Bellingham after the Real Madrid midfielder reached 50 goals for the Spanish giants , surpassing Zinedine Zidane’s tally in considerably fewer appearances.  Speaking on The Overlap , Gerrard described the achievement as evidence of Bellingham’s exceptional quality and revealed that the 23-year-old would have a place in his ideal World XI. Bellingham reached the milestone during Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Racing Santander, taking just 154 appearances to reach a half-century following his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2023. Gerrard compares Bellingham’s achievement with Zidane Bellingham became the 50th player in Real Madrid’s history to score 50 goals for the club.  More significantly, he surpassed Zidane’s total of 49 goals, despite requiring 73 fewer appearances to reach that figure. The Frenchman registered his 49 goals in 227 matches between 2001 and 2006, making the comparison particularly striking given his status as one of Gerrard’s favourite footballers. Bellingham has now scored 50 goals for Real Madrid. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) Reacting to the statistic, the former Liverpool captain said, “I read that Jude Bellingham scored 50 goals for Real Madrid faster than Zinedine Zidane. “Wow. That alone tells you the level of Jude. Zidane is my favourite player. Jude wears the number 5 and produces consistently for Real Madrid.” Liverpool legend explains admiration for Bellingham Gerrard’s praise extended beyond Bellingham’s goalscoring record.  The former England international highlighted the midfielder’s competitive mentality and determination, qualities he believes separate him from other players. “I love Jude Bellingham as a player. I love his hunger and competitiveness. He was fabulous in the World Cup.” Gerrard also made his admiration clear when discussing his ideal selection of footballers, suggesting that Bellingham’s performances have earned him a place among the world’s outstanding players. Bellingham has received praise from England legend Steven Gerrard. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) “If I were a coach, Jude Bellingham would be in my World XI. That’s how high I rate him.” The former Champions League winner then expressed his surprise over Bellingham’s Ballon d’Or finish, adding, “I can’t believe Jude Bellingham was 11th in the Ballon d’Or. I thought he’d be in the top 10.”  Bellingham receives further recognition in 2026 Gerrard’s endorsement comes as Bellingham has also been named among the 26 finalists for the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 .  The shortlist, selected through votes from professional footballers, recognises performances between August 2025 and July 2026. Real Madrid also have Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois among the nominees, alongside Marc Cucurella, and the final team will be announced on November 9.