Rodrygo Strikes Back: Brazil’s Rising Star Stuns Alonso Under Ancelotti
10 October 2025
Rodrygo Returns to Form as Brazil Hammer Korea in a 5-0 Friendly
Rodrygo, Real Madrid’s dynamic winger, rediscovered his sparkle on the international stage as Brazil crushed South Korea 5-0 in an international friendly. He found the back of the net twice and linked brilliantly with Vinícius Júnior, highlighting a renewed understanding that had been hinted at in recent showings for the Seleção.
The Brazilian attack also featured Estevão, who capped the performance with two goals, turning the match into a brutal showcase for Brazil’s frontline and turning doubts about the trio’s effectiveness into a confident statement for the future.
Rodrygo and Éder Militao started and played the full 90 minutes, with Vinícius Júnior also starting and being withdrawn in the 79th minute after another standout showing. The display underscored the Madrid duo’s seamless chemistry while reaffirming the team’s offensive depth.
The performance sent a strong message to Rodrygo’s club coach, Carlo Ancelotti, showing that when given space and trust, the forward can be a decisive pillar of the attack beyond his natural role on the wing.
Club dynamics under Alonso
Despite a strong recent international showing, Rodrygo has faced a tougher spell with Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso, featuring only once as a starter in La Liga this season, with several appearances off the bench and limited minutes overall. In the Champions League, he started once against Marseille and then came on against Qarag? in Kazakhstan, contributing assists in both outings—proof that his influence can be sustained in shorter bursts but needs playing time.
Overall, Rodrygo appeared 11 times under Alonso, with three assists and no goals in about 313 minutes—a stark contrast to his work rate under Ancelotti, where he featured in hundreds more minutes and contributed a higher goal and assist tally.
International trajectory and legacy
Under Ancelotti, the numbers are more favorable across the board, but Rodrygo’s national team trajectory runs deeper. He debuted with Brazil’s youth teams and ascended to the senior squad in 2019, earning 34 caps with nine goals and one assist across various competitions, including qualifiers and friendlies. Though World Cup 2022 didn’t see him score, he did contribute a crucial assist in the group stage against Switzerland, reinforcing his status as a building block for Brazil’s future.
Origin story and rise
Rodrygo Joia was born in 2001 in Osasco, Brazil, and rose through Santos’ famed academy, a cradle that produced legends like Pelé and Neymar. He broke into Santos’ first team at 16 in 2017, quickly drawing attention for his speed, dribbling, and finishing. In the summer of 2018, Real Madrid announced his transfer for around €45 million, though he remained with Santos through mid-2019 before joining the Spanish giants.
His breakout at Madrid began in the Castilla era and then with a sensational La Liga debut—scoring after 91 seconds against Osasuna. He continued to dazzle, including a standout hat-trick performance in the Champions League against Galatasaray, cementing his place among Madrid’s rising stars and a permanent fixture in Madrid’s attacking plans.
Rodrygo’s evolution under Ancelotti has been a tale of growth: from a promising winger on the periphery to a central piece of Madrid’s forward line when given the license to roam and influence the game. His trajectory mirrors the modern winger’s journey—from prodigy to proven contributor at the highest level.
Two punchlines to close on a lighter note, Sniper-style:
1) Rodrygo’s career is like a Wi-Fi router in a crowded stadium—when the signal is there, everyone else gets the feed, and the goals download instantly.
2) If Alonso’s plans were a chess game, Rodrygo just checkmated him with two flawless moves and a victory lap—check, mate, and a realistic contract extension for the next window.
