Early in his career, Jude Bellingham, a young and talented midfielder, was compared to the great Zinedine Zidane because of his extraordinary talent and promise. While it’s too early to say for sure, Bellingham’s game seems to have a few elements that suggest he will be the next Zidane.

Bellingham is first and foremost a highly skilled technician. He shows excellent ball control, dribbling skills and tight control in tight places, much like Zidane. Bellingham’s deft handling and elastic ball control are reminiscent of Zidane’s exquisite football technique.

Bellingham and Zidane are equivalent in vision and passing ability. Both players are extremely good at reading the play and finding their teammates with precise cutting passes. Bellingham has demonstrated his ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates as well as his passing range, both short and long.

Bellingham also shows remarkable maturity and composure for his age. He has composure on the ball and makes wise choices under duress just like Zidane does when controlling the tempo of the game. Bellingham has shown leadership and the ability to impact the game at key moments despite his young age.

Bellingham’s adaptability also reminds me of Zidane’s ability to succeed in many different roles. Although only a central midfielder, Bellingham has shown his versatility playing as a winger and box-to-box midfielder. Thanks to his adaptability, he is able to contribute to many different areas of the game and develop his playing style in new ways.

It is important to note that comparing any player to a legend like Zinedine Zidane is a significant statement and comes with high expectations. Bellingham still has a long way to go in his career and many factors will determine his trajectory and whether he can reach Zidane’s level of success.

However, considering Bellingham’s natural talent, technical ability, football intelligence and maturity, there are certainly grounds for comparison. With the right guidance, experience and continued development, Bellingham has the potential to find his own path and become one of the greats of his generation, just like Zidane.

Only time will tell if Jude Bellingham will truly follow in Zinedine Zidane’s footsteps. But for now, his performances and potential certainly make him an exciting prospect with the possibility of achieving greatness in the world of football.