According to a report by Madrid Universal on Thursday October 29, 2026, former Arsenal and Barcelona forward Thierry Henry has heaped praise on Jude Bellingham following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico, describing the midfielder’s performance as “absolutely incredible”.

Bellingham played a key role as Real Madrid secured an important victory at the Spotify Camp Nou on October 25, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice to help Jose Mourinho’s side claim all three points.

Although Mbappe attracted much of the attention for his goals, Henry was particularly impressed by Bellingham’s overall contribution, highlighting the England international’s ability to retain possession, beat opponents and create opportunities.

Writing on the Betway Insider blog, Henry said: “What he did was absolutely incredible.”

The Frenchman explained that Bellingham’s performance reminded him of England’s match in Mexico, praising the midfielder’s strength on the ball and his ability to influence the game in different ways.

“The way he played reminded me of England’s match in Mexico. He protected the ball, turned past opponents, drew fouls, found a pass, or advanced on his own,” Henry added, as quoted by MARCA.

Henry also praised Real Madrid’s collective performance, suggesting it was the best display he had seen from Mourinho’s team this season.

The former France international pointed to Madrid’s defensive organisation and their ability to threaten Barcelona on the counter-attack, qualities that helped them secure victory in one of football’s biggest fixtures.

“They were very difficult to beat and were solid on the counter-attack,” Henry said.

Meanwhile, Henry believes the rivalry between Mbappe and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal could become one of the defining battles in Spanish football over the coming years.

The former striker drew comparisons with the legendary rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, suggesting that Mbappe and Yamal could compete for major individual honours, including the Ballon d’Or.