Madrid World Cup Spotlight: Marc Cucurella impresses for Spain, Courtois keeps clean sheet

Real Madrid players have had a very good start to life at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with most of them contributing to their respective nations.

Such displays on the global stage only add to the appeal of the club and increase its reputation, with the players acting as flagbearers for the same.

Last night, two Madrid players were in action, with Marc Cucurella taking the field for Spain against Saudi Arabia.

La Roja bounced back in style after their 0-0 opening-game draw, scoring four goals against the Asian side and now looking comfortable in the group.

The other player in action last night was Thibaut Courtois, who took his place between the posts for Belgium.

Iran held Belgium to a 0-0 draw in a tightly contested, cagey game, and the Madrid shot-stopper did everything asked of him during the game.

Here is how the two Los Blancos stars fared in their respective games.

Marc Cucurella vs Saudi Arabia

Cucurella was influencial in Spain’s win. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Marc Cucurella played the full 90 minutes as Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0.

Cucurella’s performance was exactly the kind Madrid fans will enjoy: energetic, aggressive and quietly influential in the final third.

Spain had already taken control early through Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal, but Cucurella still found ways to affect the game.

He was involved in Spain’s third goal, cutting the ball back in the move that ended with Oyarzabal completing his brace.

He also played a role in the fourth, striking a volley that forced Mohammed Al Owais into a save before the rebound went in off Hassan Al-Tambakti.

It went down as an own goal, but Cucurella’s attacking intent created the moment. Madrid would love the fact that he provided width, intensity and personality in a game that La Roja dominated.

Thibaut Courtois vs Iran

Courtois kept a clean sheet vs Iran. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

On the other hand, Thibaut Courtois had a very different evening.

Belgium controlled large parts of the ball against Iran, finishing with 68% possession, 22 shots and seven efforts on target, but the match became far more uncomfortable after Nathan Ngoy’s red card in the 66th minute.

For Real Madrid fans, there is also something familiar in the calmness of it all. Courtois rarely makes difficult situations look dramatic.

His positioning, reach and timing allow him to deal with pressure in a way that feels almost routine, even when the match around him is becoming increasingly unstable.

The clean sheet matters, but the bigger takeaway is his condition. After everything he has been through physically in recent seasons, every sharp performance is further proof that he can still continue as Madrid’s number one for the foreseeable future.