Real Madrid News
Madrid World Cup Spotlight: Quiet day at the office for Real Madrid stars
Real Madrid stars have generally been enjoying a great 2026 FIFA World Cup, but last night did not follow the script.
Los Blancos players had a quiet day last night, but there was still some wonderful football on display, especially from Portugal.
Roberto Martinez’s side secured a 5-0 win against Uzbekistan, with Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a brace and Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao also ending up on the scoresheet.
England played next, in a tepid affair against Ghana. The Three Lions had all the possession but lacked the inventiveness to break down the opposition’s block.
The game ended 0-0. Both Colombia and Croatia then secured very narrow 1-0 wins against Panama and Congo.
For Madrid, Jude Bellingham and Bernardo Silva played for their respective nations, and let us see how they fared.
Bernardo Silva vs Uzbekistan
Bernardo Silva was involved as Portugal bounced back from their opening draw with DR Congo, but he did not take centre stage. He came off the bench in the second half.
That honour belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored twice and became the first player to score in six different World Cups.
Portugal finished with 17 attempts and eight on target, a clear improvement from their first match.
For Madrid fans, though, Bernardo’s performance still had value. This was the kind of game where his best work was about connection rather than spectacle.
Portugal moved the ball quicker, made better decisions in the final third and finally looked like a team with control.
The emotional image came after full-time, when Bernardo consoled Abdukodir Khusanov following Uzbekistan’s heavy defeat.
It was a small moment, but one that said plenty about his character and maturity.
Jude Bellingham vs Ghana
Bellingham had a more frustrating evening.
He was making his 50th England appearance, but Ghana’s compact defensive shape kept him from producing the cutting edge he showed against Croatia.
There was also controversy. Bellingham was named Player of the Match through the tournament’s fan vote, but he admitted afterwards that he did not feel he deserved it, saying one of Ghana’s defenders should probably have won it instead.
Bellingham is already a superstar, but nights like this test his leadership in a different way. Not every game can be won with a goal or a burst into the box. Honesty matters.
Overall, Bernardo enjoyed the cleaner day in a dominant Portugal win, while Bellingham had to grind through an awkward England performance.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
