Cesc Fabregas Names the Better Player at 20 Between Himself and Jude Bellingham

• Cesc Fabregas had an elite answer when asked whether he was better than Jude Bellingham when he was 20
• Bellingham is arguably one of the best players in the world, and is a strong contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or
• Fabregas was a midfield maestro from his teens, and a key member of the Arsenal squad in the mid 2000s despite being at the start of his football career

Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas recently answered the daunting question of whether he was better than Jude Bellingham when he was 20.

As a youngster, Fabregas showed all the marks of a special player, breaking into the first team at just 16 years and 177 days.

By the 2004/2005 season, the Spaniard, who was 17 at the time started making appearances in matches outside the League Cup.

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In an interview with BBC Sport, Fabregas was asked whether he felt he was better than 20-year-old Bellingham when he was the same age.

The retired midfield maestro neither confirmed nor denied the notion, but was keen to credit the Real Madrid man for his achievements in the game.

“It’s difficult to say, isn’t it? I started very young, I had a big impact at Arsenal playing Champions League finals also at 19 years old,” Fabregas said, adding, “I won the Euros at 21, FA Cups, fighting for leagues and being part of the Invincibles, even though I didn’t play, competing (with them) and experiencing it all.”

He finished by admittijng Bellingham was a special player for his age.

“The impact that he has had at this age is not normal. For this reason, I would put him in the same bracket of the Rooneys, Messis and Cristianos at that age.”

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What is Fabregas upto?

Fabregas, a serial winner with Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona, ventured into football management after hanging his boots.

His most recent stint was with Italian outfit Como, which he helped gain promotion to the Serie A, according to ESPN.

Bellingham’s woes at the Euros

Despite his immense talent, Bellingham has struggled at the ongoing European Championship.

His England team finished top of Group C despite a drab showing against Slovenia and Denmark despite coming into the Euro 2024 as favourites.

The Three Lions hope to showcase what they are capable of when they take on Slovakia in a last-16 clash on Sunday, June 30.

Jude Bellingham, Vinicius lead Ballon d’Or rankings

In other news, Sports Brief reported on the Ballon d’Or rankings as Bellingham and his Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Junior continue to lead the line.

The Copa America and Euro 2024 tournaments will play a significant role in who ends up dethroning Lionel Messi as the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner when the prestigious award ceremony takes place later this year.

Kylian Mbappe, Toni Kroos, Jamal Musiala and Lionel Messi are also strong contenders for the 2024 accolade.