Real Madrid are already recognized as the best team in world football, as they are headed to another Champions League Final and have thoroughly dominated LaLiga.
The Merengues are about to get even richer this summer with the incoming signings of Endrick and Kylian Mbappe to bolster the attack, as well as significant interest in defensive standouts Alphonso Davies and Leny Yoro.
As if that weren’t enough, Real Madrid are eyeing Bayer Leverkusen’s big gem Florian Wirtz as a 2025 signing, as Xabi Alonso could potentially take over for Carlo Ancelotti and bring his star playmaker with him.
Wirtz appears to be leaning towards a Real Madrid transfer. If he were to arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2025, here’s a potential 2025/26 starting lineup that includes the German international in the XI.
Defense
GK Andriy Lunin
LB Alphonso Davies
CB Leny Yoro
CB Eder Militao
RB Trent-Alexander Arnold
Thibaut Courtois will be 33 by the time the 2025/26 season rolls around, and while few dispute that he is the best goalkeeper in the world right now, few will also dispute the notion that Andriy Lunin has been nearly as good this season.
Lunin looks like the future and someone Real Madrid cannot let go. At some point, the club will have to make a difficult decision for the benefit of their future, and that will include Courtois ceding the starting position to the Ukrainian star.
Alphonso Davies and Leny Yoro are two necessary upgrades to the back line. Eder Militao looks like the only starter from the 2022/23 who will maintain that position, because while Dani Carvajal has bounced back incredibly well this season to return to being one of the world’s best, he will, like Courtois, be 33 when 2025/26 rolls around.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has long been a dream target of Real Madrid’s. With Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool, perhaps Real Madrid see 2025 as the right time to pounce for “TAA” and provide the England international with a new challenge.
Midfield
LCM Jude Bellingham
RCM Fede Valverde
AM Florian Wirtz
Toni Kroos could still be around in 2025, as he has been a legitimate Ballon d’Or candidate this season. Luka Modric probably won’t, though, at this point, you never quite know what the future holds for the ageless wonder in midfield.
Yet it is almost certain that neither will be starters in the 2025/26 season, and it looks like the very talented Eduardo Camavinga would be sacrificed as an every-game starter if Florian Wirtz were to join.
Real Madrid have Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz, and both players would also be hard-pressed to find minutes if Real Madrid were to splash serious cash to sign the Bayer Leverkusen star.
Wirtz would be the new generational playmaking No. 10 for Carlo Ancelotti (or Xabi Alonso), forcing Jude Bellingham back into a No. role where he would presumably score fewer goals but also have a more well-rounded impact.
Attack
FW Kylian Mbappe
FW Vinicius Jr.
Endrick and Rodrygo Goes are going to get significant minutes as forwards, and nobody should be surprised if Champions League hero Joselu sticks around as the veteran No. 9 whenever Real Madrid need a bigger box presence.
The duo of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe is what dreams are made of. Imagine Florian Wirtz slipping through balls to these two into the penalty area or performing one-twos with Rodrygo in tight areas. That would top the Galacticos era attack.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.