Bellingham Brothers Make Club World Cup History with Goals for Rival Giants

Sibling Rivalry Heats Up on the World Stage

"Everyone was caning me yesterday saying he's better than me so I had to do something today."

That was the tongue-in-cheek response from Jude Bellingham after scoring for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup—just 24 hours after younger brother Jobe Bellingham netted his first goal for Borussia Dortmund in the same tournament.

With Real Madrid down to 10 men against Mexican side Pachuca, Jude Bellingham delivered when it mattered. The England midfielder brought down a pass with confidence, surged into the penalty area, and drilled a precise shot into the far corner to give his side the lead. It was the breakthrough Real Madrid desperately needed in a nervy encounter they would go on to win 3-1, handing new manager Xabi Alonso his first victory at the helm.

Not only was it a crucial goal, but it also marked a milestone—the first time the Bellingham brothers have both scored in the same tournament. It’s also a historic first for siblings at the Club World Cup.

Could We See a Bellingham Showdown?

Both Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are among the favourites to progress from their groups. Should both win their last-16 ties, a potential quarter-final clash between the brothers looms. Whether or not it happens, Jude Bellingham already has one eye on the personal scoreboard. "We're 1-1 now and we'll see for the rest of the tournament," he told DAZN with a grin.

Injury Woes and Post-Tournament Surgery Plans

After the match, Jude Bellingham also revealed he plans to undergo surgery for a persistent shoulder issue that has plagued him since 2023. "I've reached the point where the pain isn't so bad, but I was sick of playing with the sling," he explained. "I'm losing a lot of weight from sweating so much, and I've decided that I'll have surgery after the tournament. I've been waiting for a long time, and my patience is running out, but the physios and doctors have been incredible. I just want to feel free."

Tactical Tweaks Give Bellingham Centre Stage

In Xabi Alonso's managerial debut, he deployed Bellingham in a central midfield role in a 4-3-3 system. But after Raul Asencio was sent off just seven minutes in, Real Madrid shifted to a 4-4-1 formation. The adjustment suited Bellingham, who was given more freedom to drive from deep. The tactical switch paid off two minutes later as he surged into the box, latched onto a pass from Fran Garcia, and buried the opening goal.

"When Bellingham comes from deep and arrives, he is phenomenal. That is an amazing goal and that is where he plays best," said former Italy striker Christian Vieri on DAZN.

Where Does Bellingham Fit in Alonso's Madrid?

In his debut season, Jude Bellingham scored 23 goals in 42 games, helping Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double. However, last season he found himself in deeper or wider positions to accommodate Kylian Mbappe, scoring just 14 goals in 53 appearances. Alonso appears to favour using him centrally, which might be key to unlocking his full potential again.

"That is where Bellingham is best, when he arrives late from midfield," added former Chelsea midfielder Jon-Obi Mikel. "No one can stop Jude in that role because he has the power and energy, he can be very special when doing that."

However, Alonso faces a tactical headache. "You have to play the players in their best positions because big players want to play in their best positions and that is the problem Xabi Alonso is going to have," said Mikel. With Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, and Bellingham all demanding key roles, balancing egos and positioning will be one of Alonso's toughest challenges.

Defensive Issues Still Haunt Real Madrid

Despite the win, defensive frailties persist. Real Madrid struggled in their opening match—a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal—and were again vulnerable against Pachuca, who registered 25 shots, the most Real Madrid have faced in a 90-minute match since 2014.

Asencio’s early red card came after he failed to play the offside trap correctly, allowing Salomon Rondon through on goal. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced into 10 saves to preserve the result, while midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni had to fill in at centre-back.

"Raul Asencio needs to learn from experiences, he is still young and we will talk," said Alonso. "We are so happy we have Thibaut in goal. He is so reliable when we had to be one player less defensively."

Alexander-Arnold Growing into His Role

New signing Trent Alexander-Arnold had a mixed game—contributing to Real Madrid's second goal but caught out defensively on occasion. He produced three crosses, the most of any Real player, and won two of his four duels.

"Trent is one of the best in the world, in two months everyone will be saying Real have the best player," said Vieri. "At Real Madrid they don't care about defending, they want to see you attack."

Mikel added: "What Trent gives you is absolutely brilliant. The only question is his defending. I am sure Alonso will help him with that. Going forward, what he gives is fantastic."

Conclusion: Bellingham the Centrepiece of Alonso’s Madrid?

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Jude Bellingham, whose goal reminded the world of his unique blend of power, timing, and intelligence. Whether he lines up against his brother or not, Bellingham seems poised to play a central role in Real Madrid's ambitions under Xabi Alonso.