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There are rough seasons and then there are truly rough seasons.
With Barcelona's La Liga title triumph confirmed on Sunday evening, Real Madrid were sentenced to a second straight campaign without a major trophy—but the absence of silverware is only one piece of the puzzle.
It has been a genuine annus horribilis for Madrid in 2025–26, with the club descending into disarray, amid reports of a poisonous dressing room that have only grown louder as the season has progressed.
Any early optimism that the energetic, youthful Xabi Alonso was the right man to steer this squad back toward glory was swiftly extinguished, while Álvaro Arbeloa has been little more than a powerless caretaker during his half-season at the helm.
Instead, the dressing room has resembled something closer to Lord of the Flies for much of the campaign, with deep rifts forming between the squad's various factions.
The mounting tensions boiled over in the now-notorious confrontation between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni this month, though that was far from an isolated event, with several others finding themselves at the heart of their own jaw-dropping, meme-worthy episodes.
Barcelona sealing their title for the very first time in a Clásico—while sporting Olivia Rodrigo-branded merchandise, no less—was simply the cherry on top.
José Mourinho has been touted to arrive this summer and either reunite—or further deepen—the divisions within the dressing room (take your pick), but before any of that, there needs to be a moment of reckoning over what has just unfolded.
How did things ever get this bad?
Here's a chronological breakdown of how this became Real Madrid's season from hell.
Timeline of Every Major Incident in Real Madrid's Doomed Season
July 2025—Reports emerge that new head coach Alonso intends to drop Vinicius Junior to the bench for the Club World Cup semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain. Vinicius Jr does not receive the news well. Alonso ultimately starts the Brazilian following an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Madrid are thoroughly outplayed by a dominant PSG and fall 4–0. After being substituted in the second half, Vinicius Jr is caught laughing on the bench.
September 2025—The summer transfer window shuts. While Madrid have brought in Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Franco Mastantuono and Álvaro Carreras, questions are raised over the absence of a central midfield signing to fill the void left by the departing Luka Modrić ... or Toni Kroos, who had already left the year prior.
September 2025—After a promising start to the league campaign, featuring six straight wins, Madrid receive a harsh reality check away at Atlético Madrid, suffering a 5–2 defeat to their city rivals. It marks the first time since 1950 that Atléti have netted five goals in a Madrid derby.
September 2025—Vice captain Federico Valverde tells the media he "wasn't born to play right back." He is subsequently dropped from the starting lineup for the Champions League group stage fixture against Kairat. Although Madrid win the match 5–0, the result is overshadowed by Valverde, who appears to undercut Alonso by refusing to warm up and instead standing with his arms folded in front of the crowd.
October 2025—Vinicius Jr reacts furiously to being substituted during the Clásico victory at the Bernabéu. He throws his arms in the air, shouting, "Always me" and "I'm leaving the team, it's better if I leave, I'm leaving," before storming off down the tunnel. Alonso tells reporters there will be no fine for the player but makes clear he does not want a repeat.
December 2025—Madrid fall 2–0 at home to Celta Vigo, with three Los Blancos players receiving red cards. Reports surface that Florentino Pérez is pushing to dismiss Alonso, but is restrained by club CEO José Ángel Sánchez. A home loss to Manchester City in the Champions League soon follows.
January 2026—Alonso departs his position by "mutual consent," having surrendered the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona, who Madrid now trail by four points in La Liga. The Basque coach exits after seven months with a win rate exceeding 70%.
January 2026—Incoming manager Arbeloa stumbles at the first hurdle, as Madrid are eliminated from the Copa del Rey by second-division side Albacete in the round of 16.
March 2026—Reports emerge of a power struggle between Pérez's advisor Anas Laghrari and CEO Sánchez behind closed doors, raising further doubts about who is truly in control and where the club is headed. Chants of "Florentino, resign" ring out during a dismal 1–0 home defeat to Getafe.
March 2026—Alexander-Arnold is dropped to the bench for the Madrid derby after arriving late to training. Dani Carvajal, who starts in his place, is greeted with a standing ovation in the 3–2 victory at the Bernabéu. Carvajal, however, is struggling to accept his diminished role. Despite being handed the club captaincy over the summer, the 34-year-old has been reduced to a peripheral figure, causing visible frustration. The veteran right back reportedly injures youth player Victor Valdepeñas with a "very nasty tackle" during a training session.
April 2026—Despite the running joke surrounding "the prophecy," Real Madrid are eliminated from the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage by Bayern Munich. Eduardo Camavinga's late and contentious red card proves to be a pivotal moment in the second leg. Several Madrid players surround referee Slavko Vinčić at full time. Arda Güler is shown red, while Dani Carvajal screams, "It's your f---ing fault" at the official. The 4–3 second-leg defeat extends a run of four matches without a win across all competitions, leaving the club staring down the barrel of a trophyless season.
April 2026—Raúl Asencio and Dani Ceballos also appear unhappy playing secondary roles at the club, sparking further standoffs with Arbeloa. Both the centre-back and midfielder are omitted from several matchday squads as a consequence. When asked about a heated confrontation with the latter, Arbeloa responds diplomatically: "What happens in the Real Madrid dressing room, stays in the Real Madrid dressing room."
April 2026—Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappé are met with boos and whistles from the crowd despite both finding the net in a 2–1 win over Alavés.
April 2026—Madrid effectively surrender the title after former Barça man Héctor Bellerín strikes a 94th-minute equalizer in the draw at Betis. Mbappé requests to be withdrawn late in the match with a muscular complaint.
May 2026—For all his goals, Mbappé continues to be a headache for Madrid. He has struggled to forge a connection with the club's other key players both on and off the pitch, while reports allege he had a heated exchange with a member of Arbeloa's coaching staff during training. A poorly timed holiday in Italy with his girlfriend only deepens the rift between the player and the Madrid fanbase, sparking an online petition calling for the French star's departure that attracts millions of signatures.
May 2026—Carreras—yet another player to fall out with Arbeloa over selection decisions—appears to confirm reports that he was struck by teammate Antonio Rüdiger during training, via a statement on Instagram. "Regarding the incident with a teammate, it is an isolated issue of no relevance that is already resolved," Carreras attempts to clarify.
May 2026—The bombshell. The Real Rumble. Valverde vs. Tchouaméni at Valdebebas. The two midfielders clash during a Wednesday training session, before the situation escalates the following day, with the Uruguayan ultimately taken to hospital with what Madrid's official statement describes as a "cranioencephalic trauma." The player himself insists it was merely a "small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital." Both players—who deny that punches were exchanged—are handed fines, while Arbeloa cuts a floundering figure at the press conference, stating: "I won't burn my players at the stake." Widespread reports paint a picture of a Madrid dressing room in a state of civil war, with very few voices remaining in support of Arbeloa.
May 2026—Barcelona officially clinch the La Liga title in El Clásico with a 2–0 victory, condemning Madrid to yet another season without a major trophy.