Ferdinand says Dortmund sensation Bellingham ahead of Lampard, Gerrard and Scholes at his age

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand says 'we haven't seen' a player like Jude Bellingham at his age after the Borussia Dortmund teenager helped his side win the Champions League 4- 1 in Seville.

Bellingham scored one and assisted one as Dortmund cruised to victory in Spain on Wednesday, with other goals from Raphael Guerreiro, Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt, while Youssef En-Nesyri pulled one back for the hosts.

Bellingham, 19, captain of the Bundesliga side, became just the second teenager to score in the first three games of a Champions League campaign.

The only other player to achieve this feat is his former BVB teammate Erling Haaland, who did it with Salzburg in the 2019-20 season.

Bellingham's tally of three Champions League goals this season is already a record among English teenagers for a single campaign, with Manchester United's Wayne Rooney in 2004-05.

"What he does in his position at his age, we haven't seen," said Ferdinand, working as a pundit for BT Sport.

"The best of our generation, [Frank] Lampard, [Steven] Gerrard, [Paul] Scholes, [Patrick] Vieira, Roy Keane, they didn't do that.

"He still has to go on and prove it over a long period of time, but they weren't doing what he's doing now [at the same age].

"Influencing games at this level, leading teams at this level, and mentally this kid is a beast."

Joe Cole, fellow pundit and former Chelsea midfielder, added: "With Erling Haaland, he's the best young player in the world, for sure.

"I saw him play for England in both [Nations League] games [against Italy and Germany] and he was our best player.

“His dad, I believe, was a semi-professional footballer, so obviously he was well guided… When we grew up with Frank [Lampard] and his dad was obviously a footballer, a top footballer, and Frank had that maturity in him… Bellingham has that too, coupled with his undeniable God-given talent and drive, he's unstoppable."

Bellingham has long been linked with a return to England, having joined Dortmund from Birmingham City in 2020, Liverpool, Manchester City, United and Chelsea are all said to be keeping tabs on developments, along with La Liga giants Real Madrid.

"One thing that's sure - whoever gets it - is [his] temper," Ferdinand said.

"When you're doing big transfers and big moves like this in the spotlight, temperament is a key element you need to get it right. This kid has already proven that it's not a question mark."