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Selflessness. Not a trait typically associated with Real Madrid. After all, this is the club of the ‘Galacticos’ and the European Super League.
A side that stockpiles elite footballing talent, who tend to get what they want when they want it. A club that’s likely to sign Kylian Mbappe despite already possessing an array of exceptional attacking talent and who will likely sign Erling Haaland in a few seasons to bolster their arsenal.
Yet, Los Blancos’ 2023/24 La Liga title was a masterclass in selflessness from Real Madrid. Superficially, this may seem hyperbolic. It may seem as though their title came easily in a season where eternal rivals Barcelona’s structural weaknesses reared their ugly head once more, as Girona, once viewed as Real Madrid’s unlikely true challenger faded as the season aged, and as crosstown rival Atletico Madrid ruled themselves out almost as soon as a ball was kicked.
All this is true. All these factors conspired to increase the ease with which Real Madrid gripped their 36th Spanish league title. But to suggest this championship came with as much ease as a walk in the park would be reductive and dismissive.
Madrid contended with the premature departure of Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the season and entered the campaign without their second-highest goalscorer ever for the first time in over a decade, and a true world-class recognised striker.
Thibaut Courtois, the best goalkeeper in the world, tore his ACL in pre-season and Eder Militao suffered the same injury 50 minutes into the opening game of the season. David Alaba’s ACL lasted until December succumbing to the same. Nothing was going right and yet eventually it all worked out that way.
Antonio Rudiger became Europe’s best central defender. Nacho Fernandez stepped up in the centre of defence too. As did Aurelien Tchouameni, a defensive midfielder shoehorned into centre half for nearly a quarter of his appearances this season, including victories in El Clasico and against Girona, Madrid’s two title rivals. Tchouameni’s partner in the heart of defence at Girona was right-back Dani Carvajal, whose only other career game at centre half came a week earlier against Atletico.
Kepa arrived from Chelsea to stand in for Courtois before Ukrainian Andriy Lunin stepped up, making the Belgian’s absence less glaring. No one made a fuss. Job needed doing, and they got it done.
Eduardo Camavinga, nominally a box-to-box midfielder, filled in at left-back. Lucas Vazquez performed remarkably at right back. A revamped midfielder reignited Toni Kroos’ career and Fede Valverde continued covering every possible blade of grass.
Luka Modric, older now but no less of a threat, reverted to bench cameos, his influence almost exclusively reserved for when defences are tired, legs are fatigued and the last thing opponents want to see is the greatest Croatian footballer of all time jog on, fresh, with hair bouncing down his neck like a mane, raring to pick the lock they’ve so desperately tried to protect all game.
Perhaps nowhere is Real Madrid’s selflessness more obvious than upfront. Jude Bellingham, signed as an attacking midfielder, has played as both an extension of his side’s midfield and a true striker this season, occupying both space between the lines and opposing central defenders. The England star routinely made space for his teammates, creating runs with no hope of getting the ball and, with the ball at his feet, finding Real’s forwards with an ease someone of his age should not be able to navigate a football pitch with.
Jude Bellingham. (Photo by Manu Reino/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
For his efforts, the Englishman has 18 league goals this season. Since 2009/10 only Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have scored more in a single season.
Alongside him, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, exceptional wingers, have spent much of this season operating as more traditional strikers. Narrower, with less room to maneuver, fewer single defenders to isolate and more defensive units to force their way through. They’re yet to miss a beat.
Yes, they’re by far and away the best side in Spain. They score more and concede fewer than any side, complete more dribbles and more passes than any side. But it’s easier to say with hindsight how easy Real Madrid’s 36th title is.
Remember, Barcelona were the reigning champions, Atletico Madrid beat Real 3-1 early in the season, and Girona were expected by many to do what Leicester City had done before and win the unwinnable. Real Madrid were broken, battered, old and striker-less, missing the best goalkeeper in the world and two of the strongest central defenders for almost the entire campaign. Yet, they persevered, their title victory inspired by nothing short of the unselfishness instilled by coach Carlo Ancelotti, who constantly put square pegs into round holes without ever fearing their capacity to complete their tasks to the required level.
When the chips were down and all hands were needed on deck, Real Madrid’s superstars downed their egos and did what needed to be done to achieve what they achieved. As Ancelloti summarised; “In times of difficult, emergency and need, the commitment is higher.”
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