According to MisterChip, Valverde joined the group of players who scored three goals in the first half of a knockout stage match in the Champions League. That list includes Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, Anthony Gordon and now Valverde. A notable detail is that he is the only player on that list who is not a forward.

It was not just any achievement, as it came against a familiar rival such as Manchester City in the Champions League. The two clubs have faced each other 15 times in the competition, producing evenly contested series with five wins for each side and five draws. Valverde scored three outstanding goals with technique, feints and elite finishing in the 20th, 27th and 42nd minutes.

Valverde’s spectacular goals strengthened the argument that Federico should be considered among the best midfielders in the game today. It is also worth remembering that he did not even finish inside the top 30 of the Ballon d’Or rankings. In the current season with Real Madrid, Valverde has scored a total of six goals, two in LaLiga, one in the Spain Supercup, and three in the UEFA Champions League.

Another surprising fact about the hat-trick

This sequence of goals has generated significant discussion because of how historic and special it has been, particularly due to Valverde joining that exclusive list.

However, MisterChip revealed another notable fact, as Valverde became only the second midfielder in the history of Real Madrid to score a hat-trick in the European Cup. The first was Pirri against AEL Limassol on September 18, 1968.

Valverde also joined a very exclusive group of captains who scored a hat-trick in a Champions League knockout stage match. The only other player to achieve that milestone was Karim Benzema for Real Madrid in 2022 against PSG and Chelsea.

Another teammate receives major recognition

Valverde’s performance also led to an unprecedented milestone for one of his teammates. With the assist from Thibaut Courtois on Valverde’s first goal, the goalkeeper became the first in Champions League history to record two assists in the same season. Courtois had previously assisted Kylian Mbappe against FC Kairat.

The Cityzens actually began the match with higher intensity, creating more offensive pressure than the hosts in the early stages. However, Real Madrid struck first in the 20th minute when Valverde clinically finished a spectacular long-range assist from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

From that moment on, it was all Real Madrid. The Uruguayan midfielder, playing with supreme confidence, capitalized on every attacking opportunity. Before the break, Valverde found the net twice more to complete the first first-half hat-trick of his career.

In the second half, a deflated Manchester City struggled to mount a comeback, finding it difficult to penetrate the disciplined Madrid defense. The Merengues had a golden opportunity to add a fourth, but Vinicius Jr. missed from the penalty spot, leaving the final score at 3–0. Pep Guardiola’s side now faces a mountain to climb in the return leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, March 17.

“What [Prestianni] said is unclear, but according to my teammates close by, he said an ugly word. Something that mustn’t be said. Personally, I think it’s shameful,” Real Madrid star Valverde told reporters after the game. “The fact no camera caught what he said is appalling, too. If you cover your mouth to speak, it’s because what you’re saying is not right. I’m proud of Vini and my teammates for standing up for him.”

After scoring the game’s lone goal with a beautiful shot into the top corner, Vinicius Jr. was caught in the eye of the storm. First, he celebrated by dancing in front of Benfica fans, which caused the home players to go after him.

Chaos in Real Madrid’s visit to Benfica

Amid the turmoil, Prestianni covered his mouth and allegedly insulted Vinicius Jr. who immediately raced to the referee and called for the UEFA Champions League‘s racist behavior protocol to be activated.

Vinicius Jr. left the field and the game was stopped momentarily. After a 10-minute hiatus, the action was resumed. From there onwards, a loud jeer and whistling followed Vinicius Jr.’s every move at Estadio da Luz. He was also involved in some heated conversations with Benfica captain Nicolas Otamendi.

What’s next?

Following yet another chaotic outing in the UEFA Champions League, Vinicius issued a four-word message after Real Madrid’s win. Needless to say, the table is set for yet another pandemonium-filled matchup between ‘As Aguias’ and ‘Los Merengues’ when they face in the second leg of the playoffs at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Addressing Valverde’s recent stint as a right-back against Salzburg and the likelihood of him playing a different role against Valladolid, Ancelotti didn’t hold back in expressing his admiration.

“He’s a complete player, incredibly important. He can cover many positions and performs perfectly in all of them,” Ancelotti said in a press conference after training. “As a pivot, as an interior midfielder, as a right-back—it’s very difficult to find a right-back like him. For me, it’s complicated to decide his best position based on the team’s needs”.

Ancelotti continued, “It’s possible that in one match we need him as a right-back and in another as a pivot. It’s a choice I have to make, and he’s always completely available—he never asks for anything. That’s also his strength. He’s undoubtedly the most complete player in soccer right now”.

Valverde as a central defender?

Real Madrid has dealt with defensive issues this season, particularly in the center-back position, due to a string of injuries. Speculation swirled in late 2024 about a potential move for Tottenham defender Cristian Romero during the winter transfer window, that never happened.

However, Ancelotti dismissed the need for reinforcements, emphasizing his trust in youth academy product Raúl Asencio del Rosario to pair with Rudiger. The coach also hinted that Valverde could step in as a center-back if required. “I say he could even play as a central defender without any problem,” Ancelotti remarked about Valverde’s versatility.

Valverde’s impact at Real Madrid

Federico Valverde has become an indispensable figure at Real Madrid. Not only has he captained the team on occasion, but he was also named the club’s fourth captain for the 2025 season, behind Lucas Vázquez, Dani Carvajal, and Luka Modric.

Since joining Real Madrid, Valverde has made 291 appearances, scoring 29 goals and providing 27 assists. His trophy cabinet is equally impressive, featuring numerous major honors:

• 2x UEFA Champions League (2021/22, 2023/24)
• 3x La Liga (2019/20, 2021/22, 2023/24)
• Intercontinental Cup (2023/24)
• 3x Spanish Super Cup (2019/20, 2021/22, 2023/24)
• 2x FIFA Club World Cup (2019, 2023)
• 2x UEFA Super Cup (2022/23, 2024/25)
• 1x Copa del Rey (2022/23)

Valverde’s ability to excel in multiple roles on the pitch and his leadership qualities make him one of the most valuable players in world soccer today.

Real Madrid are under fire after their last two defeats against Barcelona in El Clásico (0-4) and AC Milan (1-3) in the Champions League, both at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, among the critics, there’s one unexpected voice. Mina Bonino, Fede Valverde’s wife, slammed Carlo Ancelotti for his tactics during the match against the Italian club.

On her private X (formerly Twitter) account, Bonino, who is a TV presenter, first expressed her frustration, writing, “I have to close this because, If not, I’m going to end up in jail.” Her comment came after Valverde was subbed off at the start of the first half, being replaced by Eduardo Camavinga, when Madrid was 1-2 down.

To that comment, someone replied, “It’s just a tactical change, Mina, don’t give it any more thought. How the match is going, Modric can’t be replaced.” Here was when Bonino didn’t hold back, responding: “Brother, Fede plays better as a pivot… When the f*** are you going to understand that he is not a winger?”

After the match, Ancelotti was asked about Bonino’s comments on social media. “Valverde’s wife’s words on X? It’s difficult to give an opinion on what people write on social media. I changed Valverde because he wasn’t 100%,” he told the press, keeping things diplomatically.

Ancelotti also said that the Uruguayan had “suffered a problem in his back days ago. He wasn’t fine in the first half.” According to Mundo Deportivo, Bonino deleted the posts claiming that she was “hacked.” Meanwhile, Valverde didn’t comment publicly on the posts.

Madrid’s terrible week and Ancelotti’s worry

Real Madrid’s defeat to Milan showcased that the team is in a poor state of form. While, yes, missing key players such as Dani Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois, but players such as Jude Bellingham also seemed lost in the pitch.

“We have to be worried,” Ancelotti admitted, “We’re lacking something.” While Ancelotti’s run with Madrid has been extremely successful, rumors of “concern” among the club’s leadership have already started to swirl. However, Ancelotti is clear:

“Every year there are hard moments when you have to hang on, fight, suffer. We have to suffer together. What’s not so normal is that this team had a very good run and has fallen so fast. But that is part of football too: when you think everything is perfect, you fall. The good thing about football is that we have another game in our stadium soon where we can go back to being the team we were last year.”

Colombia has been in stellar form, showcasing their prowess with a 5-0 victory over Panama. Goals from Jhon Cordoba, James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz, Richard Rios, and Miguel Angel Borja sealed their dominant win, extending their unbeaten streak to 27 matches under Argentine coach Nestor Lorenzo.

Uruguay, on the other hand, displayed resilience in their quarter-final match against Brazil. Despite being reduced to ten players after Nahitan Nández was sent off in the 29th minute of the second half, Uruguay managed to hold Brazil to a goalless draw and emerged victorious in the penalty shootout, winning 4-2. Following this victory, Federico Valverde turned his focus to the upcoming semifinal against Colombia.

Valverde’s message to James Rodriguez and Colombia

In a post-match interview, Valverde expressed high regard for Colombia and their key player, James Rodriguez. “I think they are one of the best teams in the Copa America; they have a very good game. They are really good,” Valverde said. He also sent a message of admiration to James Rodriguez, highlighting the Colombian playmaker’s excellent form.

“I think James is in a very good moment. It’s normal, in the end, we know what James is and what he gives. So, we (Uruguay) are going to rest and get ready,” Valverde added, emphasizing the need for his team to prepare thoroughly for the semifinal clash.

Colombia will welcome back Jefferson Lerma, who was suspended for one game after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament in the last group stage match against Brazil. In contrast, Uruguay will be without Nahitan Nandez due to his red card in the quarter-final against Brazil, and Ronald Araujo, who suffered an injury in the same match.

The Copa America is also a springboard for young up and coming players to make a name for themselves and in many cases get a big move to Europe or a move on to a bigger European club.

Below is the list of Transfermarkt’s 5 most valuable players of this year’s Copa America, the list is dominated by Brazilian and Argentines.

Vinicius JR – $193 million

The Brazilian and Real Madrid winger is valued nearly at $200 million. Without a doubt Vinicius JR is a player of the present and the future, his form for Brazil has come under question but he has been a world star at Real Madrid.

Federico Valverde – $128 million

The future Real Madrid captain has been a world class leader for Uruguay and Real Madrid in his young career. A great passer and shooter of the ball Valverde is a complete player when attacking and defending.

Lautaro Martínez – $117 million

The Inter Milan striker has been excellent for the Serie A champions and with Argentina is starting to become the go- to striker ahead of the pack.

Rodrygo – $117 million

The Real Madrid winger is full of promise, known for his dribbling skills, vision, and ability to score crucial goals, Rodrygo continues to be a key player for both Real Madrid and the Brazil national team. His performances have earned him praise from fans and pundits alike, as he represents the next generation of Brazilian football stars poised to make a significant impact on the global stage.

Julián Álvarez – $96 million

No player has won so much at such a young age than Julián Álvarez, winner of Copa Libertadores, UEFA Champions League, Copa America, Club World Cup, and the FIFA World Cup are just some of his accolades. Julián Álvarez is also a skilled striker who could be on the move in search of more playing time at the club level.

“I was not ready to take a penalty vs Man City, I was tired,” Valverde said at a press conference ahead of the first leg of the semifinals against Bayern Munich, via @theMadridZone. “Sometimes you have to put your ego aside and be honest. When I went to bed, I felt regret. I’ll work hard to not be put in this situation again.”

Carlo Ancelotti revealed after the game that Eder Militao thought it wasn’t a good idea for him to take a penalty because Ederson knows him very well from the Brazilian national team.

Marca later reported Valverde was the other Real Madrid player who didn’t want to be part of the shootout, and as the Uruguayan recently admitted, it turned out to be true. The midfielder was exhausted after a long series that went to extra time.

Luka Modric, who came off the bench, missed the first penalty but Madrid went on to win as Jude Bellingham, Lucas Vazquez, Nacho, and Antonio Rudiger all found the net. Of course, Andriy Lunin played a key role in the win by making two saves.

Real Madrid’s impressive dominance in the Champions League

Real Madrid have made the Champions League semifinals for the 12th time in the last 14 editions. In this period, they’ve failed to get past the round of 16 just twice: in 2018-19 against Ajax and 2019-20 against Manchester City.

Of their last 11 semifinal ties, Los Blancos won six and went home on five occasions. And they lifted the trophy every time they made the final in the last few years, adding five titles to their collection.

Real Madrid are by far the most successful team in Champions League history with 14 titles to their name. Milan are second in the all-time European champions list with seven, followed by Bayern and Liverpool with six titles.

South America is a hotbed of the best and most skillful talents in all of world soccer, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil are factories of world class stars, but Colombia, Chile, and most recently Ecuador has players of the highest caliber.

Below is a list of the 10 most expensive South American players currently according to Transfermarkt, while Messi, Neymar, and Suarez are absent, South America is in good hands with these grade A players.

Most expensive South American players

Topping the list is Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior at 150 million euros, Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is second at 110 million euros. Uruguayan Federico Valverde rounds out the top 3 at a value of 100 million euros.

Tied with Federico Valverde is fellow Real Madrid teammate Rodrygo at 100M, Ecuadorian star and Chelsea splash signing Moisés Caicedo is at 90 million euros. At only 23 and winner of every major tournament imaginable, Manchester City striker Julián Álvarez is valued at 90 million euros.

Brazilian and Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli along with Newcastle ‘s Bruno Guimarães are valued at 85 million euros, while Enzo Fernández is at 80 million euros. Colombian and Liverpool star Luis Diaz is at 75 million euros rounding out the top 10.

FIFA has crowned Lionel Messi as the best player of 2023. Captains, coaches, media, and fans collectively bestowed this recognition, adding another individual award to the Argentine forward’s illustrious career.

One of the players who voted for Messi as the best player is Luka Modric, the captain of Croatia. However, Real Madrid fans are not very happy with his decision, severely judging him for supporting the former Barcelona forward.

Luka Modric receives high criticism for voting Messi in The Best 2023

Lionel Messi has secured yet another individual award. The captain of Argentina was honored as The Best of 2023, a recognition where players, fans, coaches, and media collectively choose the standout player throughout the entire year.

National team captains submit a list of three names each for the top coaches and players. FIFA employs this voting method to enhance fairness, allowing those deeply involved in soccer to choose the best representatives of the sport.

Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s midfielder, took on the responsibility of submitting Croatia’s vote as the captain of the national team. While players from the country contribute to the selection, the captain serves as the representative for FIFA.

Unfortunately for Modric, his compatriots voted for a former Barcelona player: Lionel Messi. The Argentine forward claimed the top spot on the list, followed by Rodri in second place and Marcelo Brozovic in third.

Even though Modric was not the only Croatian to vote, Real Madrid fans are furious with him. On social media, they slammed the midfielder for supporting Messi, and some even want him to leave the club because of it.

Federico Valverde, the captain of Uruguay, also faced severe judgment from Real Madrid fans as Lionel Messi topped his list too. It is evident that the Merengues haven’t forgotten Messi’s time at Barcelona and the intense rivalry with the Blaugranas.

Why did Lionel Messi win The Best 2023 when he was tied with Erling Haaland?

Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland both secured 48 points in The Best 2023. Captains and fans deemed the Argentine the best, while the Norwegian won the hearts of coaches and the media.

The tiebreaker to determine the winner relied on the number of five-point scores, awarded by men’s national team captains. Messi secured a total of 107, surpassing Haaland who had 64.

In a shocking turn of events, the striker could be on the move only a year after re-signing for Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappe let the club know he doesn’t intend to trigger the option for a further year, which means he could become a free agent in 2024.

That’s why Madrid may have the opportunity to sign him now, since PSG prefer to get something in return rather than losing him for free next year. But since Mbappe’s price tag won’t come cheap, the Spanish giants may be considering cashing in for a starter.

Report: Real Madrid could sell Valverde or Tchouameni

According to Juan Ignacio G-Ochoa on Radio Marca, Real Madrid would consider selling either Federico Valverde or Aurelien Tchouameni to raise funds for a potential Mbappe transfer.

The LaLiga giants reportedly believe they could get between €80 million and €100 million for any of them, which would facilitate a move for the French international. Though PSG haven’t set their price yet, it’s believed they could demand nearly €200 million for the 24-year-old.