He has already been awarded the Ballon d'Or: Real Madrid have found a worthy successor to Toni Kroos in the "most underrated player in the world"

There were also congratulations from a former Real Madrid manager. Carlo Ancelotti, who now manages the Brazilian national team, revealed in an interview with *Marca* that he had sent his former player – who was born in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo – a joking text message after the match, saying: “It’s a shame you don’t have a Brazilian passport”. 

One of the three goals, the 3-0 in the 42nd minute, did indeed have a Brazilian feel to it. Just as the great Pelé once did in the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden, Valverde nonchalantly lifted the ball over his opponent Marc Guehi and then struck a crisp volley into the far corner. 

To compare Valverde – who had previously scored just three goals in his 75 Champions League appearances – to one of the greatest of all time would certainly be a bit of a stretch. However, his teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold also had a superlative ready immediately after the final whistle: “I’m lost for words. He is without doubt the most underrated player in the world,” said the Englishman on TNT Sports.

In fact, the Uruguayan has rarely been in the spotlight in recent years as much as he was last week. This is also down to his versatility and commitment to the team. Valverde is a textbook all-rounder, possessing both great attacking and defensive qualities, and always putting himself on the line for the team within Madrid’s star-studded squad. He doesn’t churn out highlights like the ones against Man City on a regular basis, but in reality he has hardly any obvious weaknesses. The 27-year-old is dynamic, technically gifted, aggressive in one-on-one situations and simply gets so many things right on the pitch. Moreover, as vice-captain behind Dani Carvajal, he is now also demonstrating leadership qualities. “If there is one player who embodies the spirit of Real Madrid, it is Fede; he can simply do everything,” enthused coach Alvaro Arbeloa after the gala performance against Man City. 

A move from a good six years ago, which did not lead to a goal but prevented one, was emblematic of his team spirit and unbridled will to win: Back then, in extra time of the Spanish Super Cup against Atlético Madrid, the young Valverde accepted a red card in the 115th minute to prevent Álvaro Morata from equalising – for which he was subsequently even praised by the defeated Atlético coach Diego Simeone.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed a steady rise to prominence. Almost ten years ago, shortly after making his professional debut for Atlético Peñarol in Uruguay, he was signed by Real Madrid. Unlike other South American talents such as Vinicius Júnior or, more recently, Franco Mastantuono, however, he did not receive much hype. Valverde first had to find his feet, playing for the reserve team for a year before being loaned out to Deportivo La Coruña for a further season. He has been part of the first-team squad since 2018, learning from midfield greats such as Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro. Back then, the slight youngster was still nicknamed El Pajarito (the little bird). Now – symbolic of his development – he is called El Halcón (the falcon).

The retirement of Toni Kroos in 2024 also marked a step towards greater responsibility, as he took over the number 8 shirt. At the time, the German called him a “worthy successor” and offered him this advice: “Fede has no upper limits.”

Valverde described Kroos as his idol, whom he has “admired all his life”. However, he is a different type of player – more of a tireless runner, less of a strategist. Otherwise, Xabi Alonso would hardly have thought of frequently deploying him at right-back this season in the absence of the injured Dani Carvajal and Alexander-Arnold. 

The player, who is normally so committed to the team, felt out of his depth in this position, although he had already found himself in this situation several times under Alonso’s predecessor, Ancelotti. “I wasn’t born to play right-back,” he said publicly in the autumn. He had stepped in to help out in an emergency, but did not feel comfortable there. 

Although Valverde emphasised, following much commotion over his comments, that he would always give his all for the team regardless of his position, his relationship with Alonso is said not to have been the best for this reason either. Spanish media even speculated that, alongside Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, he had been a driving force behind Alonso’s dismissal.

The fact that the Uruguayan is currently performing so brilliantly is, however, also down to Alexander-Arnold. Since the right-back – like the regular captain Dani Carvajal – has returned from a long injury lay-off, Valverde has been able to play predominantly in midfield again. Whether he plays in the centre or comes in from the wing, the 27-year-old can be found all over the pitch during a match. 

Given the many absences at Real, which recently included Kylian Mbappé (who could, however, make his comeback in the return leg against Man City), Valverde is currently being called upon to take on even more responsibility – and that is exactly what he is doing. Even before the clash with Man City, the midfielder – who is rarely injured and usually plays the full 90 minutes – had scored in the 2-1 win against Celta Vigo. At the weekend, he followed that up with a stunning curling shot into the top corner in the 4-1 win against Elche. 

It almost seems as though the team-oriented Valverde shows his goal-scoring threat to best effect when many other stars are absent. Former coach Ancelotti had already noted that he possesses more attacking potential than he sometimes shows. “I bet him that he had to score ten goals in a season. I told him that if he didn’t, I’d hand back my coaching licence,” the legendary manager had revealed during Valverde’s most prolific season to date, 2022/23, in which he scored a total of twelve goals. That record is under threat this season; the Uruguayan currently has seven goals (and twelve assists) across all competitions.

If Valverde continues in this vein and leads Real to one or even several titles in what is supposedly already a botched season, it would be a significant milestone in his career. And there is suddenly speculation about another one: after the first leg against Man City, an Italian TV reporter at Prime Video, amid laughter from the studio, promptly handed him her mobile phone with a photo of the Ballon d’Or. The real thing is still a long way off for Valverde – though if he carries on like this, it’s not out of reach either. Especially as, thanks to him, Real have the best chance of going far, at least in the Champions League. And that is, as we know, a major factor when it comes to the biggest individual award in world football come winter.