By At the dawn of the 2025 Club World Cup, the odds were stacked in favor of a Real Madrid star leading the goal charts — and understandably so. With names like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham gracing the Los Blancos lineup, few dared to bet against their dominance. But what no one saw coming was the emergence of a quiet, lanky figure from Madrid’s Castilla ranks — Gonzalo Garcia, a 21-year-old Spaniard now making waves in the football world and relegating even Mbappe to the bench.
Garcia has exploded onto the big stage in what has become a fairy-tale tournament for him. Given his initial opportunity due to Mbappe’s absence — the Frenchman was hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis at the start of the competition — Garcia seized the moment with both hands. And feet.
On Saturday, with the sun scorching down mercilessly on the turf in the U.S., Garcia leapt into the air just ten minutes into Madrid’s quarterfinal clash with Borussia Dortmund. A looping ball from Arda Güler met Garcia’s perfectly timed run, and in a moment reminiscent of Erling Haaland, the Spaniard contorted his lanky frame and guided the ball into the net. It was his fourth goal of the tournament, and it solidified his role as the most in-form attacker in Madrid’s current setup.
It also confirmed one thing — Xabi Alonso had seen something the world hadn’t.
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The Classic No.9 Madrid Was Missing
Since Karim Benzema’s departure, Real Madrid has flirted with several solutions at striker but never quite found a true heir. In Jude Bellingham, they found a box-crashing midfielder with an eye for goal. Vinicius Jr. became the explosive winger capable of moments of magic. Mbappe’s arrival promised goals in abundance. But none of them played as a traditional center-forward, a classic No.9.
Garcia, in contrast, is precisely that.
A tireless runner, he presses high, drops deep when needed, and is more than willing to do the defensive dirty work. Watching him in action is a reminder of a different era — one where strikers didn’t just score, but grafted for the team. His commitment off the ball is what makes him invaluable, especially in a system like Alonso’s that relies heavily on counter-pressing and spatial control.
This is where Garcia separates himself from the glittering talents of Mbappe and Vinicius. While both offer raw pace and flair, they often shirk defensive responsibilities. Garcia, on the other hand, is the glue that allows the team to remain compact and press in unison. His discipline and intelligence, despite his age, give Real a tactical edge.
Mbappe Benched: A Tactical Decision?
Perhaps the most telling aspect of Garcia’s rise is the decision to start him over a now-fit Kylian Mbappe in a high-stakes quarterfinal. For most managers, the choice would have been unthinkable. But Alonso, in his first year in charge, has made it clear that form and function will trump reputation.
Garcia’s four goals and one assist in the tournament — making him the top scorer for Real Madrid — are not just a statistical fluke. They are the product of a striker who understands the nuances of his position. Whether it’s holding the ball up, timing his runs, or peeling away defenders to create space for the likes of Bellingham and Güler, Garcia is playing the role Benzema once mastered.
And there’s data to back it. At Castilla, Garcia netted 25 goals in 36 appearances, making him a known entity within the club’s youth circles. But it’s the maturity of his movement and the completeness of his skill set that have made him indispensable in this tournament.
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A Star Born in the Shadows
Garcia’s first moment under the spotlight came in a tense Copa del Rey encounter against Leganés, where he came off the bench to score a late winner, helping Madrid snatch a 3-2 victory. After the match, he revealed that his idols were Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe. Ironically, it’s one of those idols who now finds himself watching from the sidelines as Garcia steps into his own spotlight.
With the goal against Dortmund, Garcia became the first Real Madrid player since Ronaldo in 2016 to score four goals in a single edition of the Club World Cup — an astonishing feat for someone who wasn’t even in the original starting XI plans.
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More Benzema Than Ronaldo
Comparisons to Ronaldo will always be flattering for a Madrid striker. But stylistically, Garcia is closer to Karim Benzema — a player whose influence went far beyond goals. Benzema was the facilitator, the connector, the unselfish genius who made space for others to shine.
Garcia seems to possess that same footballing IQ. He often drifts wide to drag center-backs out of position, creating pockets for Madrid’s attacking midfielders to exploit. His hold-up play is polished, and his passing range under pressure is surprisingly refined for someone so early in his top-level career.
In Alonso’s 4-2-3-1 system, Garcia plays a critical role in linking midfield to attack. His relentless pressing forces errors high up the pitch, allowing Madrid to win the ball in dangerous areas. It’s a style that fits Alonso’s vision to perfection.
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The Road Ahead
Despite his heroics, it’s unclear whether Garcia will become a regular starter once the full squad is fit and firing. With Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Joselu all battling for places in the forward line, Garcia’s role could be reduced to an impact substitute.
But in a football calendar growing ever more punishing, having a young, dynamic striker like Garcia in reserve is a blessing. His hunger, coupled with his understanding of the club’s ethos, makes him the ideal candidate to play a supporting role — or even more, if given the time and space to grow.
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From Castilla to Club World Cup Hero
For all the glitz and glamour of Madrid’s Galactico culture, some of their most iconic players have come from within — Raul, Iker Casillas, and more recently, Dani Carvajal. Garcia may very well be on that path.
He’s still raw. His finishing, while instinctive, can be inconsistent. His decision-making under pressure will need honing. But with the right mentorship under a cerebral coach like Xabi Alonso, the trajectory is steeply upward.
Real Madrid has stumbled upon a gem. Not one forged in the marketing war rooms or hyped by mega-transfers. But one shaped in the gritty Castilla system, built on perseverance, hard work, and humility.
In Gonzalo Garcia, Madrid may have not just found a reliable option up front — they may have unearthed the next great No.9, a player capable of forging his own legacy while carrying the torch once held by Karim Benzema.
And for a club that lives for moments and memories, that’s worth more than any headline-grabbing transfer.
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