Who is the real leader of Real Madrid in the future?

With the departure of Modric and Vasquez, the leader of a time in Real Madrid officially came to an end, and a new leadership core also surfaced. According to club tradition, four most experienced players will take over the captain’s armband. In the 2025/26 season, this team is: Carvajal, Valverde, Courtois and Vinicius. This is not only an honor, but also a heavy responsibility, and these four players are also facing different tests.

Let's first look at Dani Kavajal and Tibo Courtois, who are ranked first and third. Kavajal has been on the team since 2013, and it is natural for him to become the first captain. Courtois joined in 2018 and has long proved his leadership with his performance. They are the guarantee of the team's experience. But the biggest problem they face together is their recent injuries. Kavajal suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury at the beginning of last season, and Courtois's condition and body also showed some fluctuations. Whether they can stay healthy in the new season is an important prerequisite for them to perform their captain duties. Federico Valverde, who ranks second, is more like the future captain. He has been the main force of the team since his first team debut in 2018. His determination, enthusiasm and his versatile attributes like the "Swiss Army Knife" on the court have won him the love of everyone. He can motivate his teammates and has been improving the team's performance since last season. It may only be a matter of time before he becomes the first captain. But he first needs to ensure that he can get a stable playing time and overcome the problem of occasional instability in the past.

Finally Vinicius. He also joined the team in 2018 and has no problem with his qualifications. His career is full of ups and downs, and he has experienced growth from being ridiculed to the core of his post-Royce era. But now, he is in his worst period since his fame, and coupled with the deadlock in his contract renewal negotiations with the club, the future is full of uncertainty. So in this case, although he entered the captain sequence, it would be difficult for him to actually wear the captain's armband unless the first three captains were not present.