But every great team also carries a different kind of hero. The one who runs until his lungs burn. The one who adjusts, adapts and plays in different setups. The one who sacrifices comfort for victory.

At Real Madrid, a club built on the legacy of ‘Galácticos’ and global superstars, that man is Federico Valverde. He is everything a Madrid player should be.

He becomes a winger, a fullback, a shield and a sword depending on what the team needs. He sacrifices himself for the badge.

Last night he reminded everyone exactly what kind of footballer he truly is. With a massive performance against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League qualifier, Valverde delivered a blistering first-half hat-trick. The finish for the final goal was almost Dennis Bergkamp-esque.

After the game, Trent Alexander-Arnold summed it up perfectly:
“Valverde is the most underrated player in world football.”

And the truth is, that statement feels almost overdue.

For years, Valverde has quietly been one of the most influential players at Real Madrid. He is the kind of footballer every coach dreams of because he can perform almost anywhere.

Central midfield.
Wide midfield.
Right wing.
Right back.

You name it.

Modern football has quietly become a sport governed by data as much as by intuition. Clubs track distances run, high-intensity sprints, progressive carries, defensive pressures, and transitional actions that occur between possession phases.

In many of these categories, Valverde sits near the top of Real Madrid’s internal metrics. Across recent seasons he has regularly covered more than 11 kilometres per match, often ranking among the squad’s leaders in high-intensity sprints.

He may not glide through pressure like Luka Modrić or spray passes like Toni Kroos. Yet few players in Madrid’s squad are more complete, aside from perhaps his devastating long-range shot. It is no surprise that Kroos himself entrusted Valverde with the iconic number 8 shirt.

Yet Valverde does something rare. He performs every aspect of the game at a very high level. Pace, touch, defensive discipline, tireless running, crossing and finishing all form part of his toolkit.

One moment that cemented Valverde’s status among Madrid supporters came during the 2020 Supercopa de España semifinal against Atlético Madrid. In the 114th minute, with the match still goalless, Álvaro Morata broke through on goal. Valverde, the last defender, deliberately committed a tactical foul to stop the attack, fully aware it would result in a red card. Real Madrid eventually won the match, and the incident became a defining example of his willingness to sacrifice himself for the team.

Despite being only in his mid-twenties, Valverde already has more than 300 appearances for Real Madrid. To put that into perspective, Madrid often struggle when he is absent, highlighting just how important he has become to the team.

His real breakthrough came under Zinedine Zidane. When Marcos Llorente left the club, Valverde finally received consistent opportunities and quickly proved he belonged among Madrid’s elite.

To truly understand the player Valverde has become, it helps to travel back to the beginning.

Montevideo, Uruguay.

Ironically, the boy who now covers every blade of grass once disliked running. As a youngster he preferred staying close to attackers and avoiding defensive duties whenever possible.

Everything changed with time.

Valverde arrived in Madrid as a teenager from Uruguayan giants Peñarol. After a developmental loan at Deportivo La Coruña, he returned to the Spanish capital and slowly carved out a place in the first team.

The Uruguayan’s mentality comes from his upbringing.

Valverde was discovered at the age of ten by scout Néstor Gonçalves, who brought him into the Peñarol academy. Even then, coaches noticed his intelligence with the ball and his understanding of the game.

But the path was not smooth.

During his teenage years he faced setbacks. While many teammates developed physically earlier, Valverde matured later and temporarily lost his place in the team. At one point he was even left out of Uruguay’s under-14 national squad.

However, he responded by delivering a brilliant performance in a friendly match and soon returned to the national setup.

When he eventually made his debut for the national team, comparisons with Steven Gerrard began to appear.

In fact, Luis Suárez pointed out the similarities back in 2017.

The energy. The long-range shooting. The ability to control the rhythm of a game.

Youth coach Chueco Perdomo later helped transform Valverde into a central midfielder. At first the young player resisted the idea because it required more running and defensive work.

Eventually he adapted, learned the role and began to dominate midfield with his energy.

His rapid development soon led to a first-team debut with Peñarol as a teenager. Soon after, Real Madrid signed him and brought him to Spain. He spent time with the Castilla side and later went on loan to Deportivo La Coruña before returning to become part of the first team.

Valverde has also delivered decisive moments.

One of the most memorable came in the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final, when his assist set up Vinícius Júnior for the winning goal against Liverpool FC.

He also captains the Uruguay national football team and remains part of the leadership group at Real Madrid.

In interviews he often speaks about the sacrifices his parents made while he was growing up. As a child he played on rough dirt pitches far from the world-class stadiums he now commands.

Those early struggles built the character that defines him.

His leadership has also grown inside the dressing room. Valverde is now one of Madrid’s captains, a sign of the trust he has earned from teammates and coaches. Even in a squad filled with stars, he is often the player who sets the tone with his work rate and determination.

His first half hat-trick against Manchester City was a rare explosion of goals, but it perfectly captured the spirit of the player.

Valverde may not always dominate the headlines at Real Madrid. Yet he remains one of the most versatile, reliable and relentless footballers in the modern game. And in my opinion one of the most underrated too.

Perhaps he himself described his journey best when he once said:

“I have grown from El Pajarito, the little bird, to El Halcón, the falcon. My mind and body feel strong enough to live up to that nickname and show my courage at Real Madrid.”

And when the falcon spreads his wings over the Bernabéu, you finally understand.