El Clasico's Unlikely Hero Steals Spotlight Among Football's Elite Ten

The opening El Clásico of the 2025–26 campaign featured dismissals, fiery exchanges and exceptional displays as Real Madrid and Barcelona met in Spain's most prestigious football rivalry.

Real Madrid inflicted Barcelona's second league loss of the campaign, claiming a 2–1 triumph at the Santiago Bernabéu through strikes from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham. Xabi Alonso's squad now holds a five-point advantage over their eternal rivals in the La Liga table.

While the reigning Spanish titleholders couldn't maintain their Clásico winning run, they still witnessed remarkable displays from several unexpected stars, though Lamine Yamal wasn't among them.

Here are FotMob's top 10 rated performers from Sunday's intense El Clásico encounter.

9. Federico Valverde, Fermín López: 7.3

Federico Valverde and Fermín López begin El Clásico's standout performers list. Both players achieved a 7.3 rating for their contrasting contributions on the field.

Deployed as a makeshift fullback, Valverde delivered a commendable display to secure the right side for Los Blancos. The Uruguayan effectively neutralized much of Marcus Rashford's threat, accomplishing this while battling illness.

López proved to be one player Real Madrid couldn't neutralize. The 22-year-old not only netted the sole strike for the defending Spanish champions but also recorded four shots on target, exceeding the combined total of Yamal, Ferran Torres and Rashford.

7. Dean Huijsen, Marcus Rashford: 7.4

Dean Huijsen and Rashford both achieved a 7.4 rating for their contributions in Spanish football's premier fixture. Both players excelled in their maiden Clásico appearances.

Huijsen, recently recovered from injury, displayed composure well beyond his age in defense. The center-back dominated Barcelona's offensive threats repeatedly, highlighted by his crucial goal-line clearance that preserved Real Madrid's advantage.

Rashford, conversely, stood out as Barcelona's primary threat, continuing his season-long form. The England forward assisted the Catalans' only goal and generated the most scoring opportunities for his team.

6. Eduardo Camavinga: 7.5

Eduardo Camavinga received an unexpected starting role on Sunday and justified his manager's faith with a display meriting a 7.5 rating. The midfielder, who operated on the right flank at times against Barcelona, showed no lingering effects from the injury that sidelined him for almost five months.

The Frenchman's tireless effort deserves praise. Whenever Real Madrid required defensive cover, Camavinga responded. When Real Madrid needed crucial midfield interventions, Camavinga delivered.

The 22-year-old also showcased his technical skills and creative passing in attacking areas.

5. Kylian Mbappé: 7.7

Mbappé ranks fifth with a 7.7 rating in his fifth Clásico appearance. The Frenchman effectively found the net three times at the Santiago Bernabéu, though only one was allowed.

Nevertheless, Mbappé remained the most threatening forward for either team; the France captain exploited his pace to penetrate the Catalans' defense, making countless runs to expose Barcelona's positioning. The superstar forward actually created the most scoring chances in the encounter.

Mbappé might have earned a higher rating had he converted his penalty attempt in the 52nd minute. A third goal would have sealed victory for the hosts, but the 26-year-old missed his first spot-kick of the season.

4. Aurélien Tchouaméni: 7.8

Among Real Madrid's overlooked performers, Aurélien Tchouaméni stands supreme. The France midfielder earned a 7.8 rating for his impact in the season's opening Clásico.

Tchouaméni barely made an error throughout the match, dominating his midfield battle against Frenkie de Jong and Pedri. The 25-year-old proved as effective in ground duels as any defender on the pitch, winning challenge after challenge to either recover possession for his team or halt Barcelona attacks before they reached his defense.

Additionally, Tchouaméni earned the foul that resulted in Pedri's dismissal during second-half injury time, essentially deciding the match for the Catalans.

3. Éder Militão: 8.0

Among just three players achieving an 8.0 or higher rating, Éder Militão delivered a flawless display in his first El Clásico since recovering from his second ACL injury. The Brazil defender recorded the most tackles in the match and lost only two of his nine aerial and ground duels.

Whenever Real Madrid required defensive stability, Militão provided it. The center-back virtually neutralized Torres, who managed just 26 touches in 74 minutes of play.

Beyond his defensive excellence, Militão also provided the assist for Bellingham's match-winner to secure all three points for Alonso's side.

2. Jude Bellingham: 8.3

Bellingham emerged as Real Madrid's finest performer on Sunday afternoon, recording an 8.3 rating. The midfielder assisted Mbappé's opener and then netted the decisive goal for Real Madrid in a spectacular display before the home supporters.

Bellingham not only contributed to both Los Blancos goals against Barcelona but also earned his team a penalty early in the second half. The 22-year-old proved the match's finest creator and his exceptional passing was crucial in exploiting Barcelona's high defensive line.

Now completely recovered from the shoulder problem that troubled him for years, Bellingham appears more lethal than ever.

1. Wojciech Szczęsny: 9.0

FotMob's top El Clásico performer was Wojciech Szczęsny, who achieved a 9.0 rating for his goalkeeping display at the Santiago Bernabéu. The keeper faced 23 shots from Real Madrid and produced nine saves.

Szczęsny's finest and most crucial save of the vital encounter came against Mbappé in the 52nd minute. The Frenchman, who had maintained a perfect penalty record this season, approached to take a disputed spot-kick awarded to Los Blancos, but watched his attempt denied by the diving Pole.

Barcelona's goalkeeper also delivered excellent distribution, misplacing only two passes and completing half of his long-range deliveries during his 90 minutes on the field. Without Szczęsny's heroic display, Real Madrid could easily have won by a significantly larger scoreline.