How much football has Jude Bellingham already played? Set to break U21 record for English stars

On Tuesday night Real Madrid locked horns with Manchester City in a fascinating and exhilarating 3-3 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Although some of the best players in the world were on the pitch that night, one in particular was making ground on an impressive historical record that could see him put his name in the history books before the end of the season. 

Indeed, the draw with Man City was Jude Bellingham’s 33rd appearance for Real Madrid in all competitions this season. Which means that the young player is just one game short of breaking the 3000 minute mark for game time this season. That in itself isn’t particularly impressive or even that interesting, but what is fascinating is the fact ahead of his 21st birthday in June of this year, the England international has already amassed an incredible amount of game time that rivals just about any player in the modern era.

How much football has Jude Bellingham played in his career?

When we calculate how much football each player born after 1975 in our database played before they turned 21, it suggests that Bellingham is now the fourth most played U21 player in the modern era. To date, the midfielder has amassed an incredible 15,007 minutes of game time in all competitions for clubs that play in the top five leagues in Europe, as well as his appearances for his international team. In fact, Tuesday’s Champions League clash pushed Bellingham above former Spain striker Raúl, who was also once Real Madrid star player. The only players in the modern era to play more football before turning 21 are Wayne Rooney, who came through at Everton before joining Manchester United, former Arsenal and Barcelona star Cesc Fàbregas and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who broke through at AC Milan before a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain. What’s worth noting here is that these figures do not include Bellingham’s game time at Birmingham City, which is also an additional 2,943 minutes of game time. And that the player still has the remainder of this season to rack up more game time for Madrid and even for England at Euro 2024, before he turns 21 on June 29. 

How does Bellingham compare to other England players of the past?

As previously noted, Bellingham is second only to Rooney when it comes to game time for clubs in the top five European leagues. And as we can see, the midfielder’s career to date puts him above other English stars of the modern era such as Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho. As well as former Liverpool strikers Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen. The latter of which proved to be a remarkable talent at a very young age and famously won the Ballon d’Or award at just 22 years of age. And few would doubt that Bellingham could well be in contention for that same award either this year or when he also reaches that age. Interestingly enough, considering that Bellingham could still play another 800 minutes of football before the end of the season, it’s not unforeseeable for Bellingham to overtake Rooney to take first place in the list of English players with the most game time before they turn 21. And, if that’s the case, it would really mean that the Real Madrid star is an unprecedented talent of untold potential at this point in his career.