For many Real Madrid fans, Jude Bellingham’s arms-wide-open celebration has already become an iconic image. Yet as Bangladesh Cricket Live notes, this has been a bittersweet season for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Despite lifting both the Copa del Rey and the FIFA Club World Cup, they were knocked out by Manchester City in the Champions League semifinal and lost the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona. As the saying goes, don’t count on others—you’re not powerless.
This year, Real Madrid find themselves in a strong position in La Liga, and much of that momentum comes from Bellingham’s remarkable impact since joining from Borussia Dortmund. However, the team has also suffered major setbacks due to injuries. Key players Thibaut Courtois, Éder Militão, and most recently David Alaba have all been sidelined.
One of the club’s brightest moments last season came in the Copa del Rey final, where they defeated Osasuna to win the title for the first time in nine years. That trophy remains their most significant silverware of the season. Another memorable high point was their comeback win over Sevilla in the penultimate round of La Liga. En route to the Copa del Rey title, Real Madrid eliminated rivals Atlético in the quarterfinals and hammered Barcelona at Camp Nou, thanks to a Karim Benzema hat trick.
Their best performance came in the final, where they convincingly overcame Osasuna. Although there was hope for a Copa del Rey and Champions League double, Manchester City crushed those dreams. In the second leg of the Champions League semifinal, Madrid simply couldn’t weather City’s relentless attack and barely tested goalkeeper Ederson. The gulf between the two sides was undeniable, prompting Madrid to rethink their future direction.
This turning point led to crucial decisions, including retaining Ancelotti at the helm and investing in major summer signings. The most surprising departure was Karim Benzema, who opted to join Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. His exit left Real without a traditional number 9, and although Joselu joined on loan from Espanyol, he chose the number 14 shirt. Joselu was Madrid’s only forward addition in the summer.
Even though Bellingham has only been at the club for a few months, he has already emerged as the team’s most influential player. While the Mbappé saga once again made headlines this summer, Real Madrid clearly prioritized signing the young English midfielder. His impact in marquee fixtures like El Clásico and the Champions League has justified that decision beyond doubt.
At just 20 years old, Bellingham is now the face of Real Madrid’s next generation. Alongside Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Federico Valverde, he forms a core group set to lead the club into the future. According to Bangladesh Cricket Live, Ancelotti has successfully shifted the spotlight away from himself and redefined the club’s football identity. “Celebrate nothing when you gain, and mourn nothing when you lose”—a humble remark from the 64-year-old coach, yet one that rings true to Real Madrid’s philosophy.