Real Madrid News
Premier League legend backs Real Madrid midfielder to become England’s greatest player – “This is superstar reaction”
Real Madrid players have been in excellent form at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior in top form at the tournament.
Bellingham single-handedly helped England beat Norway 2-1 on the night, with the English midfielder scoring both goals on an indifferent night for the Three Lions.
The 23-year-old was deservedly named Man of the Match for his exploits.
He has now received another major endorsement after Gary Lineker suggested the Real Madrid midfielder has a genuine chance of becoming the greatest footballer England has ever produced.
Speaking about Bellingham’s impact for the national team, as quoted by Madrid Xtra, Lineker said (h/t ESPN).
“I think there’s really a chance that Jude Bellingham could be England’s greatest ever footballer. At this age, to be doing what he’s doing, grabbing England by the scruff and getting them over the line, that is a superstar reaction.”
Bellingham carrying major responsibility
The praise is significant because Lineker is not only focusing on Bellingham’s technical quality.
He is highlighting the midfielder’s ability to take responsibility when England are under pressure and influence matches at decisive moments.
That mentality is already familiar to Real Madrid supporters.
Since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham has shown that he is comfortable carrying expectation, demanding the ball and stepping forward when the team needs a leader.
His personality has often felt just as important as his talent.
Many gifted young players need time before they become central figures, but Bellingham has embraced that status almost immediately for both club and country.
Real Madrid have helped shape his rise
Madrid’s environment has accelerated that development.
Playing under constant pressure, competing for the biggest trophies and sharing a dressing room with elite players has forced him to mature quickly.
Bellingham’s ability to score important goals, drive the team forward and remain emotionally involved in matches fits perfectly with Madrid’s standards.
Lineker’s claim is still a prediction rather than a conclusion. However, there is enough evidence to support it and a realistic chance of it happening.
England have produced several iconic footballers, and Bellingham will need longevity, major trophies and consistent performances before he can seriously stand above all of them.
The ceiling remains extraordinary
Still, it is easy to understand why the conversation has already started.
Bellingham combines physical power, intelligence, personality and technical quality, while his response to difficult moments often looks far beyond his age.
For Real Madrid, that is the most exciting part. The club did not simply sign a talented midfielder.
They have a player who increasingly looks capable of becoming one of the defining footballers of his generation.
Whether Bellingham eventually becomes England’s greatest remains to be seen, but Lineker’s praise captures the feeling around him perfectly.
It remains to be seen whether Los Blancos’ midfield star can lead the Three Lions to the World Cup trophy in the coming days.
Real Madrid News
La Liga icon tears into Real Madrid forwards after Rayo Vallecano win: ‘This isn’t competitive’
Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano may have delivered another three points, but Santiago Canizares believes the result is hiding a problem that could eventually cost Jose Mourinho’s side against stronger opposition.
The former Spain and Valencia goalkeeper was particularly critical of Real Madrid’s work without the ball, arguing that their attacking players are not doing enough defensively.
His comments came after a match that produced two very different versions of Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Canizares questions Real Madrid’s defensive effort
Mourinho? No—the issue is not the manager. Madrid produced a brilliant first half, scoring three times and earning an enthusiastic standing ovation.
Yet the mood changed dramatically after the interval, when Rayo caused problems, and the home crowd eventually responded with boos.
The La Liga icon believes that contrast exposes a tactical weakness rather than being simply an off-day.
“Madrid have one thing – the best quality a team can have – and that is effectiveness; there’s no doubt about that,” he said, before adding that “if a team wants to be the best in Europe, it has to be able to play in different styles.”
For Canizares, the biggest concern starts with Real Madrid’s forwards.
“When they don’t have the ball, what the strikers do is appalling. It’s contagious.
“One looks at the other, the other looks at the other, and thinks, ‘Ah, well, if he’s not moving, neither am I’,” he argued.
A warning beyond the Rayo result
Notably, that lack of pressure can leave the rest of the team exposed. The midfield is forced deeper, the defence becomes easier to reach, and opponents are given opportunities that should not exist in the first place.
“The team falls apart; the midfielders have to drop back, link up with the defence, and any team can create chances against Real Madrid.
“This isn’t competitive, and it needs to be sorted out. If you don’t do this all year round, then on the day you actually have to do it, you might not do it quite right.”
That assessment is difficult to dismiss after what happened in the second half.
Rayo may have ultimately lost comfortably on the scoreboard, but Madrid surrendered the control they had established before the break.
Arda Guler provides a timely reminder
Arda Guler’s introduction was the biggest talking point in the game.
The Turkish midfielder helped restore some of Madrid’s attacking rhythm after Rayo had begun to gain confidence.
The 4-1 scoreline therefore gives Madrid the points Mourinho wanted, but not necessarily the complete performance he would have demanded.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
