Bellingham stars in Real Madrid win, earns Mourinho praise

Jude Bellingham scored a brilliant individual goal as Real Madrid beat Malaga 4-0 on Sunday. The England midfielder's performance drew high praise from manager Jose Mourinho, who called him a leader and a Ballon d'Or contender. Bellingham has been revitalized under Mourinho's new system after an injury-hit season.
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Bellingham’s opening goal showcased his full repertoire: a burst from midfield, two defenders left in his wake, and a precise finish through the goalkeeper’s legs from a tight angle. The strike marked his second goal in three league matches, following a season-opening effort against Espanyol. He also set up Vinicius Junior in the midweek win over Real Sociedad, winning the ball deep in the opposition box.
The performance came after a disrupted 2025-26 campaign, where shoulder and thigh problems sidelined him for roughly 100 days. Mourinho’s new 4-2-3-1 system has granted him greater attacking license than the deeper role he played under Xabi Alonso. His recent World Cup form