Jude Bellingham’s star power appears to be rubbing off on his best friend, who scored for the Netherlands U21s against England on Wednesday.
Noah Ohio, who Bellingham met during their days with U16 England youth set up, netted a brilliant effort, catching the keeper by surprise from 40 yards to make it 1-1.
Harvey Elliott’s second of the game ended up sealing victory for the Young Lions but Ohio could hold his head high in a losing cause.
Bellingham and Ohio are incredibly close and Ohio has visited Madrid to watch plenty of his games with Real when his schedule allows it.
When they met, Ohio was part of Manchester United’s academy and he currently plays for Utrecht in the Eredivisie.
‘He’s the best in the world but to me he’s just Jude,’ Ohio previously told the Sun.
Noah Ohio (right) – friend of Jude Bellingham – scored a stunner for the Netherlands U21s in their 2-1 defeat by England in Bratislava on Wednesday
Ohio and Bellingham, pictured here with another close friend, became close with England U16s
Ohio and Bellingham remain tight and the former Man United youngster visited him in Madrid
‘He’s been my best mate for four, five years now. We played for England Under-16s, that’s when we got close.
‘It’s been nice to see the growth of him. I’m really proud – he’s a superstar.’
A 2021 interview suggested that Ohio had known it all along, when he cited his close friend as ‘the best under-21 player in world football’.
And when Ohio was on loan from Hull City at Standard Liege, Bellingham was clearly keeping a close eye on his progress.
After his first goal, Bellingham wrote ‘congratulations and a good finish’ but that he ‘needed a few more to catch up with him’.
Ohio spent time in the academy of both Man United and Man City before joining RB Leipzig where he signed his first professional contract.
He was loaned out three times before joining Standard Liege in Belgium where he scored five goals in 41 games for the club.
He then netted three times on loan at Hull before his next move to Utrecht where he is currently under contract.
Ohio represents the Dutch U21 side despite previously being in the England age groups
No doubt his performances at the U21 Euros will bolster his reputation, though he has plenty of work to do to reach the dizzying heights of his best friend.
Bellingham is currently in action for Real at the Club World Cup, with Xabi Alonso’s side having drawn one and won one game so far.
They face RB Salzburg on Friday in their final group game before the quarter-finals begin.
