Wednesday morning was filled with headlines after news broke that Kylian Mbappé would miss Real Madrid’s Club World Cup debut. With that bombshell dropped, all eyes turned to the possible replacements — and among so many options, Xabi Alonso chose the one with the least spotlight: Gonzalo García.

Who is Gonzalo García?

For Real Madrid’s most devoted fans, his name rings a bell. He made his first-team debut two seasons ago against Cádiz in LaLiga, and last season he scored his first goal with the senior side in the Copa del Rey. But for most people, he’s still a complete unknown.

A product of Madrid’s academy, García worked his way up the ranks, with a brief stint at Mallorca in 2019 before returning to the Spanish capital to shine with Castilla. In 2022, he became a star for the reserves, netting 25 goals in 36 matches last season to finish as the league’s top scorer — and ready for the next step.

The hero no one saw coming

Just hours before Madrid’s Club World Cup debut, it was confirmed that Gonzalo García would be the one to fill in for Mbappé, ahead of players like Arda Güler and Brahim Díaz, both regulars in Madrid’s attack during the Ancelotti era.

Xabi’s gamble paid off fast: in the 34th minute, Gonzalo opened his account. A brilliant counter-attack ended with a perfect assist from Rodrygo, leaving the academy product with a simple tap-in to put Madrid in front.

The final verdict

It was no walk in the park for Real Madrid at the Hard Rock Stadium against Al-Hilal, and just when things looked tricky, Gonzalo García stepped up to steady the ship.

In the end, Madrid did not impose their game and walked away with just a tie — in a match where the academy graduate went from a last-minute patch in Xabi Alonso’s XI to the hero of the night and a footballer who must be followed closely in the near future.