At just 20 years old, Marco Asensio has broken into Real Madrid’s starting lineup without connections, without special backing, and with nothing but talent to his name. His story is one of making the most of every chance—scoring a stunning long-range strike in his UEFA Super Cup debut, then delivering a dazzling chip in his first La Liga match for Real Madrid. In the opening league fixture, a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad, Asensio once again found the net, prompting media to declare him one of Los Blancos’ most exciting new discoveries of the season.

For those still unfamiliar with Asensio, the introduction came on August 9 in the UEFA Super Cup, when Real Madrid edged Sevilla 3-2. From 25 meters out, Asensio controlled the ball with his right foot before unleashing a sensational left-foot strike that curled perfectly into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper rooted. At first glance, many thought it was Cristiano Ronaldo—but the cameras revealed a fresh-faced youngster. That goal marked Asensio’s first for the club, earned in a game where Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were absent. Partnering Álvaro Morata and Gareth Bale in an MBA front line, Bale brought star status, Morata led Spain’s national attack, and Asensio was the unknown.

As the saying goes, “heroes are not defined by their origins.” In the 41st minute against Real Sociedad, Raphaël Varane launched a precise long ball over the defense. Asensio sprinted through, controlled it exquisitely with his left foot, and, with the goalkeeper rushing out, delicately chipped the ball over his head into the net—a finish that drew inevitable comparisons to Lionel Messi. Two matches for Real Madrid, two breathtaking goals; suddenly, the young Spaniard was on everyone’s radar.

Born in January 1996 to a Spanish father and Dutch mother, Asensio speaks Spanish, Dutch, English, and Catalan fluently. His rise has been meteoric—starting with Mallorca’s B team in Spain’s fourth tier, then quickly advancing to the senior squad. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona chased his signature, but when Barcelona proposed paying his €4.5 million fee in installments, Mallorca refused. Real Madrid paid in full and secured their target.

Asensio’s arrival at Real Madrid came with help from tennis legend Rafael Nadal, a devoted Madrid fan. Nadal personally called club president Florentino Pérez to recommend him, and with the influence of Nadal’s uncle Miguel—then a Mallorca executive—the deal was done for just €4 million. After staying one more season at Mallorca, scoring 6 goals in 34 Segunda División games, he spent a year on loan at Espanyol, where he contributed 4 goals and 10 assists in 34 La Liga appearances, cementing his reputation as one of Spain’s brightest young talents.

While the BBC trio of Benzema, Bale, and Cristiano will remain Madrid’s front line when fully fit, Asensio’s blistering pace, silky dribbling, and direct attacking style give him a real shot at carving out a permanent place. Alongside emerging talents like Jesé and Lucas Vázquez in recent years, and the returning Morata from Juventus, Real Madrid’s attacking options look richer than ever—a fact that fans tracking player performances and match stats on the Melbet App will surely appreciate. Asensio’s rise is a reminder that in football, as in life, opportunity knocks for those ready to seize it—and the Melbet App makes it easier than ever to follow the next chapter of his journey.