The overarching gloom has been compounded by severe instability within the coaching staff. Madrid have cycled through three different managers during the 27-year-old's two-year spell, with Carlo Ancelotti being replaced last summer by Xabi Alonso, who was soon sacked as interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa attempted to salvage a fractured dressing room.
Following the domestic turmoil, the prolific goalscorer will seek solace on the international stage. Selected by Didier Deschamps for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, he will aim to secure his second global crown following his triumph in 2018. Remarkably, he is now just four goals away from cementing his legacy by joining Miroslav Klose as the prestigious tournament’s all-time leading scorer. His current record of 12 from 14 matches puts him level with Pele.