Jude Bellingham can make history with unique achievement that not even Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo managed

Jude Bellingham is on course to achieve something not even Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have managed.

On Monday England and Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham was presented with the 2023 Golden Boy award, given to the best under-21 player in Europe's top flights.

In turn, Bellingham, who has scored 15 goals in 17 Real Madrid games so far, became the first English player to win the award since Raheem Sterling in 2014.

Other notable winners include Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Of course, having picked up his latest accolade, Bellingham has the opportunity to go one better than Messi already.

Messi picked up the Golden Boy award in 2005 but did not win the first of his eight Ballon d’Ors for another four years. Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner was never named Golden Boy.

Bellingham, however, could become the first player in history to win the Golden Boy and Ballon d'Or awards in successive years.

The 20-year-old has emerged among the favourites to take the crown in 2024, though will of course, likely face stiff competition from Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe in the years to come.

Having already thrived in the Spanish capital since a summer move from Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham is also expected to play a starring role for England at Euro 2024 next summer.

After being named Golden Boy, Bellingham said: "I'd like to thank everyone who has been part of my journey so far at Birmingham, Dortmund and now Madrid. It wouldn't be possible without them.

"Lastly and most importantly my family who give me the support and motivation and love every day to keep striving.

"Now I have this prestigious award I want to keep going. I want to keep pushing the limits of my potential and hopefully many more trophies to come."