It’s rare for a player to arrive at a tournament as an unknown and leave as the story of the competition but that’s exactly what’s unfolding for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
When the tournament began, all eyes were on Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham with the trio tipped to battle for the Golden Boot, however a shock star has emerged for Xabi Alonso’s team.
21-year-old academy product Gonzalo Garcia had just six senior appearances and one goal to his name before boarding the flight to Miami, but things have changed dramatically.
Mbappe missed the group stage after a brief hospital stay, and Alonso handed García a shock starting role, and the youngster has grabbed his opportunity in the USA.
After starting all five games – despite Mbappe’s return to fitness – Garcia has not only forced himself into the starting XI but also into Real Madrid’s history books.
With his composed 10th-minute strike in the 3-2 quarterfinal win over Borussia Dortmund, Garcia scored his fourth goal of the tournament, becoming the first Los Blancos player to score four in a single Club World Cup since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016.
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Unlike Ronaldo, who did it in two matches, Garcia has spread his impact across more matches, and has also registered one assist, in 379 minutes.
The young striker now shares the top spot on the tournament’s scoring chart, alongside Angel Di Maria and Marcos Leonardo, ahead of a semifinal against PSG on July 9.
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Real Madrid star sparks transfer interest across Europe
García’s Club World Cup breakout has triggered a wave of transfer interest from clubs across Europe, with El Chiringuito TV confirming he’s received at least 10 offers from teams in England, Italy, and Spain.
4- Gonzalo García is the first Real Madrid player to score four goals in a single edition of the @FIFACWC since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016 (including previous formats). Future. pic.twitter.com/DQUbIVB2oE
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 5, 2025
Despite the rumours, Real Madrid are not looking to cash in, with some sources suggesting García will remain in Alonso’s plans for next season.
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