With recent defeats against AC Milan and Barcelona, both in front of their home crowd at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid have hit a rough patch. Still, a few players have stepped up and kept the team competitive. In this article, we highlight the top five players who made their mark for Los Blancos in October and early November 2024.
5. Rodrygo
Rodrygo has been somewhat overlooked since the arrival of Kylian Mbappé. While Mbappé has not reached the level expected of him, Rodrygo has maintained a steady performance, though he has yet to stand out.
🚨 BREAKING: Real Madrid expect Rodrygo to be out for the next five to six weeks with a new injury 😕 pic.twitter.com/ZJgCIALPHL
— 433 (@433) November 11, 2024
Rodrygo has been reliable throughout October, despite not registering a single goal or assist. However, his off-the-ball movement complements Vinicius’ dribbling more effectively than Mbappé’s style which is why he makes it to the ranking despite a poor record in front of goal.
4. Federico Valverde
Federico Valverde may not be one of the standout players of the season, but he’s become the glue holding Real Madrid’s transitions together. In this role, he has been able to hide the team’s defensive frailties.
“Volveré a caer millones de veces pero siempre volveré a erguirme”
Porque somos el REAL MADRID y está escrito en nuestra historia 🤍 pic.twitter.com/5nrKAVAsAA— Fede Valverde (@fedeevalverde) October 27, 2024
Valverde’s work rate and tactical discipline have been critical, as he tirelessly patrols the pitch and fills gaps left by a reshuffled midfield. With Toni Kroos’s departure, the team needed someone to take control of possession, with Valverde even attempting Kroos’s trademark long balls.
Although this current role diverges from his typical style, Valverde has been the only midfielder to consistently deliver since the season began.
3. Eduardo Camavinga
Camavinga has been impressive over the past month, securing his role as the starting defensive midfielder over Aurélien Tchouaméni. It’s an important step in his career, as Camavinga’s versatility has often left him without a defined role.
Carlo Ancelotti often used Camavinga as a left-back, but this year, he has returned to the heart of the midfield. Similarly to Mbappé and Vinicius, Camavinga and Tchouaméni sometimes clash in positioning.
Contento de estar de vuelta a casa con una Victoria ✨ pic.twitter.com/RmdJkKNzhe
— Eduardo Camavinga (@Camavinga) October 5, 2024
However, Camavinga has improved in the last month, and it’s clear that the pair cannot coexist with the team lacking a creator from deep. With Modrić’s pace declining, either Camavinga or Tchouaméni will have to leave.
2. Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham’s impact cannot be measured like that of Vinicius Jr. While he cemented himself as a box-crasher last season, Toni Kroos’s retirement forced Ancelotti to rethink where he wanted to deploy the Englishman. Few would say that Bellingham acted as a true midfielder last season, often joining the front three. This unique pattern helped Real Madrid achieve success.
M A D R I D I S M O. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/xq7CdZY3AC
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) November 9, 2024
However, Carlo Ancelotti has redefined Bellingham’s responsibilities, positioning him further back. This change in position explains why he hasn’t scored as often as he used to, though his defensive stats have improved.
Bellingham’s impact is difficult to quantify with stats because of his constant movement and presence across the field. Nonetheless, he still finds ways to get involved in the attack.
He registered a goal and an assist against Osasuna and assisted one against Dortmund. His attacking flair isn’t gone, but his new responsibilities have seen a shift in the usage of his skillset.
1. Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius Jr is unquestionably Real Madrid’s best player. However, the arrival of another superstar Kylian Mbappé, has led to clashes in their zonal occupation because both stars prefer similar spaces in attack.
This makes it hard for Carlo Ancelotti to include Mbappé in the lineup. While the Frenchman has struggled, it’s clear to analysts that Vinicius will continue to play as the team’s left-winger.
Amo este equipo!!! 🤍😉 pic.twitter.com/GjkGZ8xTqE
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) November 9, 2024
The record speaks for itself: Vinicius scored against Villarreal and Celta at the beginning of the month. He also added a Champions League hat-trick against Dortmund and scored another goal in the match against Osasuna.
He only failed to score against Barcelona when Real Madrid suffered a humiliation at the Santiago Bernabéu (0-4).
A por La LIGA! VAMOS JUNTOS! 🤍 pic.twitter.com/tyEyAYSf8H
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) November 8, 2024
The Brazilian has already scored eight goals in La Liga in the 2024/25 season, only surpassed by Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (14 goals). He leads the team through his creativity, standing out as the only consistent forward.Vinicius doesn’t seem to be affected by Toni Kroos’ retirement, an issue that has been challenging for Carlo Ancelotti.
