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Thiago Pitarch foi o jogador mais jovem de sempre a titular num jogo do Real Madrid para a Champions, ultrapassando Raúl – Foto: IMAGO
Scouts from several clubs tracked Thiago Pitarch in 2023 while he played for Leganés, prompting Real Madrid to quickly secure his signing. He has featured in multiple positions before settling into a central midfield role under coach Álvaro Arbeloa. Pitarch is eligible to play for both Spain and Morocco, with the Moroccan national team reportedly eyeing him for the 2026 World Cup.
Thiago Pitarch made history on March 12, 2026, becoming the youngest Spanish player ever to start a Champions League knockout stage match for Real Madrid. The 18-year-old surpassed the previous record held by Raúl González, according to an Instagram post.
Pitarch’s rise has been swift. He celebrated his 18th birthday just 220 days prior to the match against Manchester City, and made his first-team debut on February 13, 2026, playing one minute in a Champions League playoff match against Benfica after being called up to the senior squad eleven times previously.
The young midfielder dazzled in Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, earning praise from Thierry Henry, who admitted he struggled to pronounce the rising star’s name. Henry told CBS Sports, “What a game the lad had! He just ran for everyone.”
Prior to the match, coach Álvaro Arbeloa emphasized the difficulty of giving playing time to youth players at a club with such a star-studded roster. “Here you have the best players in the world, and if you play a youth academy player, someone from the first team has to sit. That’s not easy for a Real Madrid coach,” AS reported. Arbeloa ultimately decided to start Pitarch, even shifting Arda Güler to the wing to accommodate the promising midfielder.
In just 152 minutes with the senior squad over the past three weeks, Pitarch has quickly established himself as a key player for Real Madrid. The win against Manchester City gives Real Madrid a significant advantage heading into the second leg.
