A star is born: Gonzalo Garcia makes most of Club World Cup
At a tournament where organisers were banking on household names to build the excitement, the academy graduate has become the breakout star, seizing his chance to deputise for an ill Kylian Mbappe.
"We've seen him play in the last few games and today he did it again," said manager Xabi Alonso. "He is making the most of this opportunity."
Garcia's terrific run began in Real's opener against Al-Hilal last month, where he scored in a 1-1 draw, as Mbappe was sidelined with acute gastroenteritis.
He recorded an assist in Real's second group-stage affair against Pachuca and added a bit of insurance in Real's 3-0 win over Salzburg to close out the group stage.
He headed another in to clinch their round of 16 win over Juventus 1-0 on Tuesday, where Mbappe came in off the bench for Garcia.
Mbappe was a second-half substitute again on Saturday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but this time came on as veteran forward Vinicius Jr. came off, a sign of just how high Garcia's stock has climbed.
"I think that he is in the right place, right time, and we're very happy with the work he's doing - and he's also scoring goals," Alonso told reporters.
It was hardly what fans expected from the homegrown talent who had made few starts in La Liga before the US-hosted tournament, but has become the bedrock of the Real attack under manager Alonso.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Bayern's Musiala out for 'long period' with broken fibula
PARIS: Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala faces a "long period" on the sidelines after he suffered a broken fibula and an ankle dislocation at the Club World Cup, the German champions said on Sunday. The 22-year-old Germany international was hurt in a challenge with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as Bayern lost 2-0 in the quarter-finals in Atlanta on Saturday. Coach Vincent Kompany was incensed by the injury but called it an "accident." Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer criticised Donnarumma though for being "reckless." Musiala was on a flight back to Munich on Sunday morning and will undergo surgery soon, Bayern said in a statement. "This serious injury and the lengthy lay-off are a real shock for Jamal and us all. This hits FC Bayern," said sporting director Max Eberl. "Everyone knows how immensely important Jamal is for our game and what a central role he has in our team. "Furthermore, there's also a huge human impact and we all feel for him: Jamal has just come back from an injury and will now be out for another long period. He'll get everything he needs from us. "We'll support him intensively, be by his side and already look forward to when he's back on the pitch." According to German media, Musiala is expected to miss four to five months and could return just before the end of the year. "It's a situation where you don't have to go in like that; it's reckless," Neuer said after the match. "He accepts the risk of injuring his opponent." Musiala missed the end of the season, including Bayern's Champions League quarter-final exit to Inter Milan, with a torn hamstring and was not part of Germany's Nations League squad in early June. He returned in time for the Club World Cup and scored a hat-trick off the bench against amateurs Auckland City in a 10-0 win in Bayern's opening game of the tournament. Musiala's absence will be felt by both Bayern and Germany, who will be without one of their key players for their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign that begins in September. "Jamal's injury is a big shock for us as well, especially given he had just come back after a muscle injury. We wish him the best for the operation as well as a speedy recovery," said Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.--AFP
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Argentine Silva is JDT's latest signing
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) have signed Argentine left back Jonathan Silva. Silva, 31, will join the Southern Tigers in their pre-season training in Alicante, Spain. "Jonathan Silva is our latest addition to the 2025-26 squad," said Johor Southern Tigers on their Facebook page today. Silva has played in top leagues for clubs like Estudiantes and Boca Juniors in Argentina, Sporting CP in Portugal and La Liga sides Leganes and Getafe. Silva has also collected two senior international caps for Argentina, earned in 2014 in friendlies against Hong Kong and Croatia.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Home shuttlers Ziheng-Noraqilah, Dania-Zi Yu bag two titles
KUALA LUMPUR: The national junior shuttlers wrapped up their campaign at the Malaysia Junior International Challenge in style, clinching two titles in Kangar, Perlis, on Sunday. Loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan captured the mixed doubles crown after pulling off an upset against top seeds and compatriots Datu Anif Isaac Datu Asrah-Dania Sofea Zaidi, winning 20-22, 21-15, 21-12 in a hard-fought 54-minute final. Ziheng-Noraqilah earned US$720 (RM3,040) for the win, while runners-up Datu Anif-Dania Sofea took home US$480 (RM2,025). Dania Sofea, however, did not leave empty-handed. She bounced back to win the women's doubles title with Low Zi Yu. The pair defeated Thailand's KhanaphonDeearom-Thanaphon Deearom 21-11, 21-19 in the final. The Malaysian pair, silver medallists at last year's World Junior Championships, pocketed US$720 (RM3,040) for their triumph, while the Thai sisters received US$480 (RM2,025). Ziheng's bid for a second title was denied when he and Tan Zhi Yang narrowly lost the boys' doubles final to Indonesia's Alexius Ongkytama Subagio-Aquino Evano Keneddy Tangka 18-21, 21-19, 22-20. In the boys' singles final, Lam Ka To of Hong Kong outclassed Indonesia's Radithya Bayu Wardhana 21-8, 21-9. Thailand's Tonrug Saeheng, the top seed in the girls' singles, overcame unseeded Ip Sum Yau of Hong Kong 21-18, 15-21, 21-17.
