A Milestone Goal
In the opening minutes of the second half of the Club World Cup clash against Mexican side Pachuca, Madrid’s Real Madrid received a genuine boost: Arda Güler, taking a pass on the edge of the box, glided gracefully onto his left foot and bent the ball into the far corner. This pinpoint strike became the Turkish midfielder’s tenth across all competitions in the white shirt and instantly etched his name into Los Blancos’ record books.
A Record Backed by Numbers
At the moment of the goal, Güler was 20 years and 57 days old — thus he surpassed the previous record-holder Vinícius Júnior, who reached the same mark at 20 years and 80 days. Since the 2009/10 season no young Real Madrid player had hit double-digit scoring so quickly. For a club that traditionally grants youngsters trust only gradually, this statistic underscores the Turk’s exceptional talent.
The Match Against Pachuca: Drama From the First Minute
The encounter began with a cold shower for the Spaniards: as early as the 7th minute defender Raúl Asensio was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul. Reduced to ten men, the Galácticos switched to a more compact 4-4-1 shape, conceded possession to the visitors yet retained their edge in rapid transitions. The sides went into the break at 1-1, and in the second half the young Turk and company unleashed a high press and pushed the score to 3-1. Güler netted the winner, while in stoppage time Rodrygo sealed the result.
What’s Next for the Turkish Prodigy?
The Blancos’ head coach stressed after the final whistle: “Arda has a phenomenal reading of the game and ice-cold composure in the decisive phase.” Ahead for Madrid lie the knockout rounds of the world tournament and the finishing stretch of the La Liga marathon. If Güler maintains his current momentum, he risks becoming not only a record-breaker but also a cornerstone of Real Madrid’s midfield for years to come. The spotlight is firmly on the young maestro — and this seems to be only the opening movement of his grand Madrid symphony.