Rio Ferdinand insists Jude Bellingham ahead of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Paul Scholes at his age after Champions League masterclass for Borussia Dortmund

Rio Ferdinand insists the greatest midfielders in the Premier League weren’t at Jude Bellingham’s level when he was 19.

The English sensation led Borussia Dortmund to a 4-1 win over Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

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Bellingham scored one and created another by becoming the youngest Englishman to wear the armband in Europe’s elite competition.

The teenage midfielder looks set to start for the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup this winter, having featured during the last international break.

And Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand insists Bellingham’s performance levels at 19 are unprecedented.

Ferdinand names United team-mates Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, as well as Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard and Arsenal hero Patrick Vieira – and insists they weren’t as good at 19.

“What he does in his position at his age, we haven’t seen,” Ferdinand said.

“The best of our generation, Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, those guys… Vieira, Keane, they didn’t do that.

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“He still has to go on and prove it over a long period of time, but they weren’t doing what he’s doing right now.

“Influencing games at this level, leading a team at this level, he is the complete package.

“Mentally this kid is a beast, no doubt about him.”