Six Real Madrid players called up to the Spanish national team for the 2018 World Cup

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 27: Isco Alarcon of Spain celebrates after scoring his team`s third goal with Sergio Ramos of Spain during the international friendly between Spain and Argentina at Wanda Metropolitano on March 27, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 27: Isco Alarcon of Spain celebrates after scoring his team`s third goal with Sergio Ramos of Spain during the international friendly between Spain and Argentina at Wanda Metropolitano on March 27, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 27: (L-R) Marco Asensio of Spain, Javier Mascherano of Argentina during the International Friendly match between Spain v Argentina at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on March 27, 2018 in Madrid Spain (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 27: (L-R) Marco Asensio of Spain, Javier Mascherano of Argentina during the International Friendly match between Spain v Argentina at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on March 27, 2018 in Madrid Spain (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

Marco Asensio

Marco Asensio has probably had the fastest rise through the national team ranks ever. In any country.

More from The Real Champs

At the European Championship in 2016, Asensio was virtually a nobody in the eyes of national team fans. Now, the wickedly talented 22-year-old could get a couple starts in the 2018 World Cup.

The Mallorcan born attacking midfielder has gone from making his U-21 debut in March of 2015, to making the World Cup team just over three years later. Not only has his rise through the youth ranks been impressive statistically, but he has won several titles along the way.

Marco has been a part of both a U-19 European Championship and was on the U-21 team that finished runners-up in the Euro tournament last summer. During that tournament, Marco dazzled the fans and coaches as he bagged a hat-trick against Macedonia in a 5-0 win.

Whether or not he is a regular starter is yet to be seen. However, I believe he will not be in the starting XI come the knockout stages for this year’s World Cup run. If Spain is trailing and needs a goal or some energy, expect to see number 20 warming up on the sideline.

He has started in some big matches for La Roja, like against Italy during qualifying in the fall, and against Argentina in a huge 6-1 win.