Jude Bellingham might’ve been a teenager when he played Rangers with Borussia Dortmund.
But the likeable England international midfielder left a big impression on Rangers fans for more than just his performances in that famous Europa League tie back in 2022.
Rangers famously downed a Borussia Dortmund side led by Jude Bellingham – who were the favourites for the competition – to give Giovanni van Bronckhorst the monumental belief which drove the side to Seville.
Whilst Rangers fell short, accusations surrounding how Bellingham dealt with his underperforming Dortmund teammates have since gone viral.
Now at Real Madrid, it just had to be his former club that the popular 20-year-old would be lining up against in a first Champions League Final.
And the Englishman has just helped the greatest club in Champions League history to a 15th triumph in the tournament.
Bellingham helps Real Madrid to #15
After suffering defeat in the Europa League knockout playoff v Rangers, the following season Jude Bellingham and Dortmund reached the Champions League last 16.
Beaten by Chelsea, the Germans also missed out on the league title by blowing it on the final day.
It pre-empted Bellingham’s £88.5m move to the Bernabéu this summer and for this season’s Champions League Final it was only ever going to be Dortmund who faced Real Madrid in the final.
Carlo Ancelotti’s re-imagined Real Madrid team has the perfect blend of world-class young talent and unshakeable top level experience.
They have the dynamism of Bellingham, Vinicius Jnr, and Rodrygo going forward with the composure of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal behind them.
Whilst Dortmund proved capable opposition in the first half, a string of missed chances came back to haunt the team with Dani Carvajal breaking German hearts with around 15 minutes to play.
The Spanish right-back rose highest to nod home a corner before a slip from one-time Rangers target Ian Maatsen allowed Vini Jnr to crown Madrid’s 15th European triumph.
Winning 2-0 on the night, Bellingham also lifted the first European trophy of his career in the shape of the Champions League.
It was a moment at Wembley which we’re sure everyone at Real Madrid will never forget.
From Rangers low to Real Madrid high
Rangers fans have kept an eye on Jude Bellingham’s progress ever since the club faced Borussia Dortmund.
Across the two Europa League legs, Bellingham impressed Gers fans with not only his on-pitch quality but how the young professional handled himself off the park.
Bellingham claimed that he ‘couldn’t wait to play at Ibrox’ following the famous 4-2 Rangers win in Germany.
A clip of Bellingham exclaiming ‘what a gaff’ when emerging from the tunnel Ibrox Stadium also went viral at the time of the Europa League clash.
Bellingham also has a broadcasting relationship with one Ally McCoist.
The attacking midfielder would score goals in both legs against Rangers and Ibrox fans knew football had something special on their hands in the shape of the young Englishman.
Now a Champions League winner for Real Madrid, as we enter a new era of football we suspect Jude Bellingham is a name we begin to hear more and more every day.
