In modern-day football, where social media and instant video are at every fan’s fingertips, very few players go under the radar.
Every name has its own cheering section and a moment to shine thanks to so many avenues available to us all.
Yet, in Atletico and Spain’s ranks, Alex Baena remains a player who’s achieved so much in a short period of time, but he still doesn’t feel like the household name he should be.
After a year in which he played a huge role in winning the game’s biggest prize, the playmaker is pulling the strings in Atletico’s Champions League and La Liga charge, so is this the season he finally gets the flowers he deserves?
Going for gold
When Baena stepped up to take and score the free-kick that sent Spain on its way to winning an Olympic Gold Medal, it was the start of a period where the player would quickly ascend the national team ranks and become Atletico Madrid’s craftsman in the middle.
By this point, he’d already been part of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning side, and an Olympic Gold would form another third of what would be a record-breaking trio for Baena.
A year later, he swapped Villarreal for Atletico and as Diego Simeone once again evolved his team, he’d found the new playmaking fulcrum to build his midfield around.
By the summer of 2026, he’d established himself for club and country and then went to North America; while all the talk was centred around Yamal, Rodri and co, he played more than his part in a World Cup win.
The 25-year-old was the matchwinner against Uruguay, a victory that secured Spain’s knockout berth and would go on to start in the tournament’s final, where they beat Argentina to land a second World Cup crown.
In doing so, he became the first-ever player to win a World Cup, Euros and Olympic Gold, and did all of it with many not really aware of Alex Baena before events in North America.
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My name is
The current Spain team has so many incredible talents; Baena’s role has gone somewhat underappreciated so far, but if the World Cup was the springboard, he’s continued to take it to new levels in 2026-27.
So far, he’s Atletico’s top scorer with five goals, ahead of both Julian Alvarez and Jonathan David, and has three assists to his name, too.
As the conductor in the club’s attack, his 42 key passes into the final third are the second most in the whole of the league, and he also sits in the top three for big chances created, too.
That narrative was on full display on Matchday Two of the Champions League, as it took Baena just one minute to provide an assist for Pablo Barrios to open the scoring against Manchester United as the Spaniards piled more misery on Michael Carrick.
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He has continued the form for his country, too, coming off the bench during Spain’s first post-World Cup clash to score and assist and turn a 2-1 defeat into a 3-2 win against England in the Nations League.
Time and time again, it’s been Baena who’s made the difference for club and country, but he’s not yet being talked about in the same breath as some of his lauded peers.
Next up is a trip to Germany to face a Stuttgart team stuttering at home and abroad; it’s bound to be a tight encounter, with the Bundesliga side sitting in and trying to make life difficult for Atletico.
The man they’ll turn to? Well, it’ll be Baena once again: an Olympian, a World Cup winner and someone who should be heralded as the world-class talent he is.
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