Tag: Real Madrid

2026 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings after Lamine Yamal’s hat trick
28Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Rankings

2026 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings after Lamine Yamal’s hat trick

Lamine Yamal had a performance for the ages on Saturday afternoon, as Barcelona shredded Villarreal 4-1 behind the first hat trick of the 18 year old right winger's career, dominating the third best team in Spanish football in the process. Here are the latest updated 2026 Ballon d'Or Power Rankings after Yamal's fleet footed, clinical goal fest against the Yellow Submarine. 5. Real Madrid CF Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is currently out with a left knee injury that has been slowing him down for several weeks, and after aggravating the injury further, Real have shut the Frenchman down. But he is still having an incredible season as the star man for Madrid, scoring 23 goals with 2.7 dribbles completed and 2.3 key passes per game, ranking him second behind only Ya...
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Real Madrid get one more bit of bad news on the Kylian Mbappe injury front
28Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid get one more bit of bad news on the Kylian Mbappe injury front

Kylian Mbappe suddenly had to miss the second leg of the Champions League playoff round against Benfica with his left knee acting up, and it looks like he will miss the next Champions League match against Manchester City, too. Once again, Real Madrid will face Man City in the Champions League knockout stages, and while there was optimism at first that the French superstar would be able to feature in the first leg, it looks like that will be too soon of a comeback. According to a report from Spanish outlet Carrusel Deportivo, Mbappe will have to miss three more weeks with this latest left knee tweak, taking him out of the first leg vs. Pep Guardiola's men. Mbappe was already ruled out for Monday night's tough game against rivals Getafe, which was obvious, and he will also miss the ...
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Real Madrid’s No. 1 midfield transfer target could cost just 50M
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Real Madrid’s No. 1 midfield transfer target could cost just 50M

Real Madrid need to sign one more world-class midfielder, as their quality has dipped badly following the losses of legends Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Vinicius Junior's old Ballon d'Or foe Rodri of Manchester City is their dream option right now. According to a report from Ramon Alvarez de Mon of Radio MARCA, Rodri is the player Real want in the middle of the park, and a deal for the Manchester City superstar could cost just 50 million euros. A fee that low for a Ballon d'Or winner in the defensive midfield seems almost unbelievable, but it makes sense when you look at the fact that Rodri had an ACL tear just two seasons ago, leading to a noticeable dip in athleticism and output. Plus, Rodri is about to be 30 years old this summer when June strikes, so he has limited future resal...
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Real Madrid are about to make another top prospect a regular starter
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Real Madrid are about to make another top prospect a regular starter

Real Madrid produce the highest volume of starting-caliber young prospects in European football, and they have already found another one in Thiago Pitarch. According to a report from MARCA, manager Alvaro Arbeloa is considering starting him in the coming matches, and Pitarch is expected to become a regular starter in the XI soon. This season, Real Madrid have already made 18-year-old playmaker Franco Mastantuono, striker Gonzalo Garcia, and right back David Jimenez key parts of the team, not wanting to miss out on the likes of Nico Paz and Alex Jimenez who are shining in other European leagues (and now Endrick, too). Victor Valdepenas is another player who has started for Real Madrid and even earned keen transfer interest from another elite European club in Arsenal over in the Premie...
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Vinicius Junior humbled Jose Mourinho further with an embarrassing new record
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Vinicius Junior humbled Jose Mourinho further with an embarrassing new record

Real Madrid fans will always love Jose Mourinho for how he led their club as manager in the early 2010s, but after his disgraceful comments minimizing racism, it felt good to watch Vinicius Junior sink him. Vinicius Jr. scored a brilliant opening goal that was shrouded by controversy afterwards in the first leg, and then he sealed the tie in the second leg with another goal on the break, meaning that he scored in both ties against Benfica. According to Madrid Xtra, that's actually a record. In addition to all the other history Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid made at Jose Mourinho's expense, Vini Jr. is the first player to ever score in both ties against a Mourinho-led side. Mourinho is a manager famously known for his hard-nosed defenses and stability, going back to his days at Po...
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Real Madrid get excellent Dean Huijsen injury news
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid get excellent Dean Huijsen injury news

Real Madrid star center back Dean Huijsen has been a vast upgrade for the team in the 2025/26 season, and while they did miss him in the second leg of the Champions League vs. Benfica, the Spanish international is set to return in time for the Round of 16 against either Sporting CP or Manchester City. According to a report from COPE, Huijsen will be fully ready for the Round of 16. In fact, they state that the star central defender will be able to make his return in La Liga on Mar. 7 against a dangerous Celta Vigo side, though he will miss the next game on Monday vs. the hard-nosed Getafe. Real Madrid can survive without Huijsen vs. Getafe, but the more attacking men from Vigo is a great spot for his return. And most importantly, Real Madrid won't be without him in the Champions Leag...
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Real Madrid fans get the only Kylian Mbappe injury news they needed to hear
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid fans get the only Kylian Mbappe injury news they needed to hear

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is dealing with a tricky knee injury that has caused the club to shut him down as a precaution, but COPE reports the relieving news that the center forward will be able to play in the Champions League Round of 16 next month. In total, COPE report that Mbappe is going to miss the next 10-14 days. As everyone fully expected, Mbappe will miss, in addition to the previous second leg battle against Benfica in the Champions League, the upcoming La Liga fixture on Monday against Getafe. That's all for the better, as Real's local rivals, coached by the notorious Jose Bordalas, are not exactly a friendly opponent for an injured superstar attacker, given their foul nature of defending. The 10-14 day timeline means that Mbappe is also scheduled to miss the...
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Real Madrid will miss 3 important players for next Champions League game
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid will miss 3 important players for next Champions League game

Real Madrid managed to survive an upset bid from Benfica with two narrow victories in the playoff round, but their next Champions League Round of 16 tie will be even tougher with Eder Militao, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Ceballos all still out injured, per COPE. Much of the conversation heading into the second leg against Benfica centered around Kylian Mbappe, though the superstar forward isn't the most at risk player of missing the Round of 16. Real Madrid are shutting the Frenchman down due to a recurring knee issue, meanwhile, their bigger concerns heading into either a Round of 16 tilt with Sporting CP or new European Clasico rivals Manchester City will be the defense. Militao and Huijsen are the two main starters for Real at center back, and there is a clear drop off after them...
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Real Madrid’s real star vs. Benfica wasn’t Vinicius Jr. (or Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni)
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Real Madrid’s real star vs. Benfica wasn’t Vinicius Jr. (or Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni)

Aurelien Tchouameni won the Man of the Match. Vinicius Junior scored the goal that sealed the game. Federico Valverde had two assists. But Real Madrid's real hero against Benfica was Thibaut Courtois. Even though he didn't get a clean sheet in the second leg as in the first leg, Courtois was arguably even better in the decisive second matchup against Benfica in the opening round of the 2025/26 Champions League knockout stages. Courtois was impeccable, making stupendous save after save to prevent Real Madrid from getting caught out on the break. He could do nothing about the opener that Benfica scored and steadied Los Merengues from there on. It is so easy for the goalkeeper to get overlooked on a team like Real Madrid where you have stars like Vinicius Jr. balling out and even mid...
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Vinicius Junior broke one of Neymar’s underrated records
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Vinicius Junior broke one of Neymar’s underrated records

Real Madrid superstar left winger Vinicius Junior is already becoming a legend in world football, and his latest Champions League goal against Benfica set the record for most knockout goals ever scored by a Brazilian player in the Champions League, via Madrid Xtra. The record for most Champions League knockout goals by a Brazilian footballer was previously held by Neymar, who dominated the competition in the 2010s and early 2020s with Barcelona and PSG, completing Remontadas, winning the treble with Barcelona, and even taking PSG to their first Champions League Final. Vinicius Junior, though, is already surpassing him, and he's only 25. The Real Madrid star's goal against Benfica to win 2-1 in the 80th minute and seal advancement to the Round of 16 was his 14th career knockout stage ...
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