Real Madrid's Club World Cup Heroes and Villains: Garcia Steals the Show While Rodrygo Struggles

Real Madrid's journey at this summer's FIFA Club World Cup featured a mix of impressive and disappointing individual displays.

Following Xabi Alonso's appointment as Real Madrid's new head coach just under three weeks prior, the La Liga second-place finishers traveled to America to begin their Club World Cup adventure. The Madrid outfit maintained an undefeated record across five games under their new tactician before suffering a crushing 4–0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal stage.

Although the tournament ended in disappointment, Real Madrid's impressive journey was fueled by exceptional contributions from emerging talents and recent acquisitions. The club might have reached the final if their established stars had delivered when crucial moments arrived.

Here are the key performers who excelled and struggled during Real Madrid's Club World Cup campaign.

Winners

Gonzalo García

The standout performer was undoubtedly Gonzalo García, who emerged as Real Madrid's top player throughout the Club World Cup. The 21-year-old striker transformed from having only six senior appearances to earning six starting positions under Alonso during the American tournament.

García contributed to the scoresheet in each match of Real Madrid's semifinal run, achieving the tournament's highest tally with four goals plus one assist. The academy graduate earned significant recognition from his new coach, who drew comparisons between him and club icon Raúl.

Despite García's subdued performance in the PSG loss, his overall tournament success cannot be overlooked as he stepped up admirably for the absent Kylian Mbappé. He has virtually guaranteed himself the backup striker position, potentially threatening Endrick's standing in Alonso's plans.

Dean Huijsen

Dean Huijsen made a smooth adjustment from Bournemouth to Real Madrid. The 20-year-old defender had minimal time with his new teammates before excellently anchoring Alonso's backline during the Club World Cup.

The Spanish international embraced every tactical challenge Alonso presented, adapting to different defensive partnerships and formation changes. Whether partnering with converted midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, operating in a three-man defense, or building play from deep, the center-back excelled in his debut appearances wearing the famous white jersey.

Huijsen's significance became most apparent in the semifinals when Real Madrid shipped four goals while their new defender watched from the sidelines. The ex-Bournemouth player needs to address his unnecessary dismissal in the quarterfinals, but he represents the defensive foundation for years to come.

Arda Güler

Only months earlier, Arda Güler found himself on Real Madrid's substitutes' bench. The gifted 20-year-old midfielder barely featured under Carlo Ancelotti's management and never received adequate opportunities to showcase his abilities since arriving as a teenager before the 2023–24 campaign.

The Club World Cup marked Güler's transformation into an essential component of Alonso's starting lineup. The Turkish playmaker featured in all six of Real Madrid's American matches, contributing one goal and two assists throughout the tournament.

Güler provided vital creative spark to Real Madrid's midfield, consistently seeking to unlock defenses with intelligent through balls and precise dead-ball situations. His exceptional left foot alone justifies his inclusion, and his importance will grow further with Jude Bellingham sidelined for the start of the 2025–26 season due to required shoulder surgery.

Losers

Rodrygo

Rodrygo's position at Real Madrid emerged as a major talking point during the summer for the Spanish club. The Brazilian forward started Los Blancos' Club World Cup opening match, provided an assist for their sole goal, then never earned another starting opportunity.

Alonso limited Rodrygo to brief substitute appearances against RB Salzburg and Dortmund, while completely omitting the 24-year-old from the starting elevens against Pachuca, Juventus and PSG. When questioned by journalists about Rodrygo's reduced playing time, the former Bayer Leverkusen boss described it as tactical choices made on a "match-by-match basis" that kept the two-time Champions League victor on the bench.

Rodrygo's minimal participation in America only intensified speculation about his future prospects. After an underwhelming 2024–25 season, the Brazil winger appears to have fallen out of the club's long-term vision, potentially opening opportunities for a Premier League transfer with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea expressing interest.

Raúl Asencio

Raúl Asencio suffered the most significant decline in reputation during the Club World Cup. The 22-year-old defender went from being a regular starter throughout Ancelotti's final season to producing some of the most concerning individual displays by a Real Madrid center-back in recent memory.

Asencio made critical errors in all three of his American starts; the academy product gave away a penalty against Al Hilal, received a red card versus Pachuca, and then presented Fabián Ruiz with PSG's opening goal in the semifinals through a costly mistake.

Asencio's Club World Cup showing clearly demonstrated that the Real Madrid Castilla graduate lacks the quality required for Alonso's first team. The defender now sits firmly behind Huijsen, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão and potentially David Alaba in the manager's defensive hierarchy.

Vinícius Júnior

Similar to his struggles throughout the previous season, Vinícius Júnior disappointed at the Club World Cup. While the winger didn't endure a completely disastrous tournament, his output fell well short of his usual high standards.

Across 456 minutes in America, Vinícius Júnior managed only one goal and one assist, both coming in Real Madrid's 3–0 triumph over RB Salzburg. Throughout his remaining five appearances, the Brazilian failed to find the net or create scoring opportunities. The 24-year-old also struggled defensively, frequently criticized for his lackadaisical work rate and reluctance to press opponents or track back.

Vinícius Júnior's Club World Cup performances represent a stark contrast to his exceptional 2023–24 Ballon d'Or-caliber campaign. Whether through excessive touches in dangerous areas, weak shooting attempts, or poor combination play with teammates, Vinícius Júnior demonstrated a concerning lack of technical precision.