Jose Mourinho described Jude Bellingham as a “unique” player after the midfielder helped Real Madrid recover twice in their 3-2 Champions League victory over AEK Athens.
Real Madrid secured the points in dramatic fashion on Wednesday when captain Federico Valverde struck a 92nd-minute winner against the Greek side.
AEK Athens led on two occasions, with Aboubakary Koita opening the scoring before Stavros Pilios restored their advantage. Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe equalised each time for Los Blancos.
Valverde’s decisive strike was Real Madrid’s ninth 90th-minute winning goal in the Champions League, more than any other team has scored in the competition.
Bellingham levelled the match after 32 minutes, meeting Marc Cucurella’s low cross with a skilful flick that sent the ball into the bottom-right corner.
The England midfielder has now directly contributed to 30 Champions League goals, with 16 goals and 14 assists. At 23 years and 128 days, he is the sixth-youngest player to reach that total.
Among European players, only Mbappe, who reached 30 goal involvements at 20 years and 356 days, and Erling Haaland, at 22 years and 76 days, achieved the milestone sooner.
Bellingham also recorded the most entries into the final third, with 14, and made 26 passes in that area, a figure matched by Eduardo Camavinga. He won seven of his nine duels and completed all two of his tackles.
“Since I arrived, he’s been doing well,” Mourinho said on Bellingham.
“He’s a unique player, I think. There isn’t a player like Jude in the world of football today. He’s complete in every way.
“I don’t have many words, because for me, he’s an absolutely extraordinary player. And even when he doesn’t have a great game, one of those spectacular ones… even when he doesn’t, he always shows hard work, leadership, ambition, quality, attacking prowess, goals.
“He’s an extraordinary player. I repeat: I’m very lucky to have a squad of this calibre.”
Mourinho said the result was particularly satisfying given the standard of AEK Athens’ performance.
“Yes, very satisfied, obviously. We played against a very difficult team. A team that played very well, better than ever,” he said.
“Of all the matches we’ve analysed, none were even close to this performance. From the first minute, very well-organised, pressing very well, compacting at the back; direct play.
“[Luka] Jovic had an extraordinary game as a reference point. Players with legs, with the intensity to get forward from deep.
“They’re the reason we didn’t play a perfect game. It’s them. They played a great game.”
