Gonzalo Garcia: From 'substitute' to the soul of Real Madrid's attack

TPO - 21-year-old Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia has gone from being a nearly-unknown name to becoming a phenomenon at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. With his fourth goal in five matches, he made a major contribution to helping the Royal team win a ticket to the semi-finals.

The 21-year-old player who grew up in the Real Madrid academy has had an unbelievable journey, from being an unwilling backup to replacing superstar Mbappe to being the main striker of the Royal team.

With 4 goals in 5 matches, Garcia not only played an important role in bringing Real to the semi-finals, but also made the whole football world mention his name with admiration.

A new star is born

No one expected Garcia to start in this tournament. But injury and then acute gastritis kept Mbappe out of the entire group stage. The opportunity arose, and Garcia seized it with all the hunger of a young player waiting to prove himself.

On his debut at the FIFA Club World Cup, he scored to help Real draw 1-1 with Al-Hilal. He then assisted against Pachuca and scored in a 3-0 win over Salzburg. In the round of 16, he continued to shine with a decision header to help Real eliminate Juventus.

In the quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund, a challenging opponent, Garcia continued to be named in the starting line-up, while Mbappe was only brought on as a substitute. Here, he opened the scoring in Real's 3-2 victory.

“He works tirelessly,” said coach Xabi Alonso. “We have been following Garcia's progress for some time now and he is taking his chances brilliantly.”

Garcia scored the opening goal against Dortmund.

Talent grows in silence

It is no coincidence that Garcia was able to integrate so quickly and play so well in such a harsh tournament. Once a prominent name at Real Madrid's youth level, Garcia patiently trained in silence, accepted the days of "wearing out his pants" on the bench in La Liga, and gradually proved himself in small matches and harsh training sessions.

At 21, Garcia possesses explosive speed, intelligent movement and an incredible scoring ability - factors that not many young players of his age possess. What is special about Garcia is his composure in decisive moments, something usually only seen in established stars.

“Garcia not only scores goals, he also knows how to stretch the opposition defense, create space for his teammates and help out defensively when needed,” said a Real Madrid assistant coach. “His professional attitude and training spirit are really impressive.”

Waiting for a big mark against PSG

Garcia will join Real Madrid in the semi-final against European champions PSG next week at MetLife Stadium, where he has made his mark throughout the tournament.

Against a PSG team that possesses defensive "monsters" like Marquinhos, Skriniar or Ugarte, Real's young talent will have the opportunity to prove whether he can shine at the highest level when pressure, expectation and monitoring from experts all weigh heavily on every move.

Regardless of the outcome, Garcia's journey to the 2025 Club World Cup has been a modern fairy tale in an increasingly competitive football world. From being a stand-in for Mbappe, he has now become a symbol of desire, patience and an indomitable fighting spirit.

Garcia - 21, goals four in five games, the heart of Real's attack - may not be a global superstar yet, but if he keeps up his current form, the football world will soon be reminded of his name. And who knows, Gonzalo Garcia's story in the US this summer will just be the first chapter of a new legend in Real Madrid colors.

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Source: https://tienphong.vn/gonzalo-garcia-tu-ke-dong-the-den-linh-hon-hang-cong-real-madrid-post1757953.tpo