Alvaro Rodriguez was perhaps not the saviour Real Madrid expected on derby day, but when the teenager nodded in a late equaliser against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, he became an instant hero among the Santiago Bernabeu faithful.
Still, his vital goal, a wonderfully guided header in the 85th minute, was of little surprise to those who have been tracking his progress in recent years. Rodriguez has quietly become a hot commodity in Madrid's acclaimed academy system, developing from an injury-prone winger into a dominant No.9 in less than three years.
Once a Barcelona reject, the 18-year-old is now a promising striker who has the potential to replace Karim Benzema when the Madrid legend eventually moves on.
Tall, quick and devastating on the ball, Rodriguez has earned Erling Haaland comparisons from those who have coached him in the Spanish capital. And while he may not ever hit those heights for the first team, Rodriguez has bags of talent - certainly enough to be a regular for Los Blancos.
But who is Rodriguez, and what makes him so good? NXGN takes a closer look at one of Spanish football's most promising youngsters...
