If you hadn’t heard of Garcia prior to the Club World Cup, you will have now.
The young Madrid forward has led the line in the absence of Kylian Mbappe – who made his comeback from gastroentiritis against Juventus – and has taken his chance with both hands.
With three goals in four games, Garcia is Los Blancos’ top scorer at the tournament and is behind only Benfica’s Angel di Maria in the overall standings.
Aside from a one-year spell away from the Spanish capital with Mallorca in 2018-19, the 21-year-old has been part of the Madrid set-up since the age of 10.
He rose through the ranks and made his first appearance with Madrid’s B team, Castilla, in March 2022.
The Spanish forward made his first-team debut in the November of that year but was still predominantly playing with Castilla, eventually scoring his first senior goal in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals against Leganes in February 2025.
After Real’s 3-0 victory over Salzburg, in which Garcia scored his second goal at the tournament, Alonso likened his attributes to that of the legendary Raul Gonzalez.
“What he’s doing isn’t a surprise. He’s done it many times at Castilla,” he said.
“He’s the typical number nine, who knows how to wait for his opportunity, who moves well.
“He has Raul qualities in his movements. There are no decisions regarding the start of next season.”
Mikel believes Garcia has earned his chance to start, even with Mbappe’s return to fitness.
“Who needs Mbappe when you have Garcia?” Mikel told Dazn.
“I’m pushing for the young lad, he has been on fire. This is what we love to see – young players getting opportunities.”
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, added: “In December 2024, Rahul – then manager of Real Madrid B – said Garcia should be in the first team. He was part of the youth team that won the treble in 2022/23. He was playing as a nine but also can play as a left winger.
“Real have been looking for a forward, someone who accepts his role behind Mbappe. Now they have got that nine through the ranks, Alonso has got a lot of confidence in him.
“He was the third top scorer in Real Madrid B history, arrived at Real Madrid when he was 10 and now he is a first teamer.”
