Jude Bellingham hails Rodrygo as Real Madrid's unsung hero

The midfielder played a pivotal role in the win, but it was his glowing praise for teammate Rodrygo Goes that stole the post-match headlines.

Speaking to Thierry Henry after the game, Bellingham was asked about the player he considers the "most underrated, most talented, and most gifted" in Carlo Ancelotti's current Real Madrid squad.

The former Arsenal, Barcelona, and Juventus star prompted, "Can you talk about Rodrygo? Because nobody talks about him. He's great. His skills. And he does it for the team."

Bellingham didn't hesitate. "Rodrygo Goes is massively underrated," he said. "For me, he's the most talented and the most gifted in the team."

The England international lavished praise on the Brazilian's technical brilliance. "The things Rodrygo Goes does with the ball, those little tricks, I just think, 'How does he do that?' If I tried, my ankles would be in bits," Bellingham admitted with a grin. But it wasn't just the flair that impressed him. He also highlighted the selfless work Rodrygo puts in for the team.

"Rodrygo Goes is the one who sacrifices the most," he said. "He never moans, he just gets on with it."

Bellingham revealed that Rodrygo's favourite position is on the left flank, adding, "He does heaps defensively on the right, even though it's not where he'd rather be."

The attacking quartet of Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham are starting to earn the nickname 'The Fantastic Four' among fans. While the label hasn't fully caught on inside the dressing room, Rodrygo welcomed it. "We don't talk about 'The Fantastic Four' too much ourselves, but yeah, we like it," he said after the win.

"We're playing really well together. Every day, we're getting a better understanding, and with the quality we have, plus the hard work the gaffer demands, it's always going to come off on the pitch."

Rodrygo also took a moment to salute Kylian Mbappe, who bagged a hat-trick against Manchester City. "Against a top side like that, we're buzzing for him," he said.

"He's getting better every day. He's a superstar. He's joined a team that was already strong, European champions with great players, and now we've added another world-class talent. We've got an unbelievable squad." 

READ MORE: Kylian Mbappe's magic hat-trick fires Real Madrid past Man City