Isco facts for kids
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Isco after the 2018 UEFA Champions League final with Real Madrid
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 21 April 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Benalmádena, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder, winger | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Betis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | PDM Benalmádena | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2006 | Atlético Benamiel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2009 | Valencia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Valencia B | 52 | (16) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Valencia | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Málaga | 69 | (14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2022 | Real Madrid | 246 | (37) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Sevilla | 12 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Betis | 51 | (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Spain U16 | 3 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Spain U17 | 21 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Spain U18 | 1 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Spain U19 | 12 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Spain U20 | 6 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2014 | Spain U21 | 19 | (14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Spain U23 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013– | Spain | 39 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:42, 23 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2019 |
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Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez (born on April 21, 1992), known to many as Isco, is a Spanish professional footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for the La Liga club Real Betis, where he is also the captain. He also plays for the Spain national team.
Isco started his football journey at Valencia, mostly playing for their reserve team. In 2011, he moved to Málaga. His great performances there helped him win the Golden Boy award in 2012. This led to a big move to Real Madrid in June 2013. With Real Madrid, he won many important trophies, including four UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga titles.
Isco also played for Spain's national teams at different age levels. He even played in the 2012 Olympics. He made his debut for the senior national team in 2013 and later played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Isco's Football Journey
Early Club Career
Isco was born in Benalmádena, a town in Málaga, Spain. He started playing football as a child for Atlético Benamiel. He then joined Valencia's youth system. In the 2009–10 season, he played for Valencia's reserve team, Valencia Mestalla.
He made his first team debut for Valencia on November 11, 2010, in a cup match. He even scored two goals in that game! A few days later, he played his first La Liga match. He helped the reserve team get promoted by scoring 15 goals that season.
Time at Málaga
In July 2011, Isco returned to his home region and signed a five-year contract with Málaga. He scored his first goal for Málaga in November 2011. He helped his new team qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever.
In September 2012, Isco scored two goals in Málaga's first Champions League group stage game. He was even named the Man of the Match. In December of that year, he won the prestigious Golden Boy award, which is given to the best young player in Europe. In January 2013, he signed a new contract with Málaga. He helped them reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Years at Real Madrid
On June 17, 2013, Isco announced he had offers from Real Madrid and Manchester City. He decided to join Real Madrid, becoming the first player signed by their new manager, Carlo Ancelotti. Real Madrid paid €30 million for him.
Isco made a fantastic start at Real Madrid on August 18, 2013. He scored the winning goal in his first official game. He continued to score regularly, even though he sometimes had limited chances to play. In his first season, he scored 11 goals in 53 games. He also played in the Champions League final, which Real Madrid won 4–1 against Atlético Madrid.
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Isco became a regular starter in the 2014–15 season. He helped the club win the FIFA Club World Cup. His performances earned him praise, with some comparing him to the legendary player Zinedine Zidane.
For the 2015–16 season, Isco changed his shirt number. He was a part-time starter when Real Madrid won the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League again, beating Atlético Madrid in the final.
In the 2016–17 season, Isco played 30 times as Real Madrid won the La Liga title. He also started in the 2017 UEFA Champions League final, which Madrid won 4–1 against Juventus.
On August 8, 2017, Isco scored in the 2017 UEFA Super Cup, helping Real Madrid win 2–1 against Manchester United. He was named man of the match for his performance. He signed a new contract with Real Madrid until June 2022. Real Madrid won their third straight Champions League title in the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League season. He made 23 appearances when Real Madrid won the 2019–20 La Liga. In the 2021–22 season, he was not a main player, but Real Madrid still won La Liga and the Champions League. On May 30, 2022, Isco announced he was leaving the club after nine years.
Short Stay at Sevilla
On August 7, 2022, Sevilla announced they had agreed to sign Isco for two years. However, on December 21, 2022, Isco and Sevilla ended their contract early. The coach, Jorge Sampaoli, said Isco "did not meet the club's expectations."
In January 2023, Isco almost joined German club Union Berlin. But the deal fell apart, even after he passed his medical tests. Both sides had different reasons for why the agreement failed.
Current Club: Real Betis
On July 26, 2023, Isco joined Real Betis, a rival club to Sevilla, on a one-year deal. He played his first game for Betis on August 13, 2023. On August 28, he scored his first goal for Betis against Athletic Bilbao, ending a year without scoring.
On December 28, 2023, Isco extended his contract with Betis until June 2027. In the 2023–24 season, he received the most Man of the Match awards in La Liga, with 19.
In the 2024–2025 season, Isco led Real Betis to the UEFA Europa Conference League Final. This was the club’s first-ever European final. On May 28, 2025, he assisted a goal, but Betis lost 4–1 to Chelsea F.C. in the final. Despite the loss, Isco was named the UEFA Europa Conference League Player of the Season for 2024–25.
International Career
Isco played for Spain's U17 team in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup and scored three goals. The team finished third. In 2011, he played for the U-20 team in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
On February 6, 2013, Isco made his debut for the main Spanish national team. He played the last 30 minutes in a 3–1 win against Uruguay. That same year, he played in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel. He scored in the final and was a key player for the winning team. He also won the 'Bronze Boot' award for scoring three goals.
Isco scored his first goal for Spain in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match on November 15, 2014. He scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) for Spain on March 27, 2018, in a 6–1 friendly win against Argentina.
In May 2018, Isco was chosen for Spain's team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He scored his only goal in the tournament in a 2–2 draw against Morocco. This goal helped Spain win their group and move to the next round.
In May 2021, Isco was not included in Spain's squad for UEFA Euro 2020. However, on May 26, 2025, he was called back to the squad for the 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals in Germany. This marked his return after six years away from the national team.
How Isco Plays
Isco started his career as an attacking midfielder or a second striker. At Málaga, he often played in an attacking role. When he moved to Real Madrid, his manager sometimes used him in a deeper midfield role, which meant he had more defensive duties. He has also played as a winger.
Isco is a quick, skilled, and creative player. He has excellent technique and control of the ball. He is known for his ability to make perfect passes, dribble past defenders easily, and score goals from difficult positions. He is also good at understanding the game and directing his team's play.
In 2013, a journalist from Marca called Isco "the most promising young player in Spanish football." He compared Isco's strength and skill to Sergio Agüero, and his vision and passing to Zinedine Zidane. Former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas even said in 2015 that Isco would become Spain's most important player.
Personal Life
Isco has a son with Victoria Calderon. He also has two more sons with actress Sara Sálamo.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Valencia Mestalla | 2009–10 | Segunda División B | 26 | 1 | — | — | — | 26 | 1 | |||
| 2010–11 | Tercera División | 26 | 15 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 28 | 15 | |||
| Total | 52 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 16 | ||
| Valencia | 2010–11 | La Liga | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 7 | 2 | |
| Málaga | 2011–12 | La Liga | 32 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 5 | ||
| 2012–13 | La Liga | 37 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | — | 47 | 12 | ||
| Total | 69 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 | — | 82 | 17 | |||
| Real Madrid | 2013–14 | La Liga | 32 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 3 | — | 53 | 11 | |
| 2014–15 | La Liga | 34 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 53 | 6 | |
| 2015–16 | La Liga | 31 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 0 | — | 43 | 5 | ||
| 2016–17 | La Liga | 30 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 11 | |
| 2017–18 | La Liga | 30 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 49 | 9 | |
| 2018–19 | La Liga | 27 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 6 | |
| 2019–20 | La Liga | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 3 | |
| 2020–21 | La Liga | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 14 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| Total | 246 | 37 | 31 | 7 | 62 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 353 | 53 | ||
| Sevilla | 2022–23 | La Liga | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 19 | 1 | |
| Betis | 2023–24 | La Liga | 29 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 36 | 9 | |
| 2024–25 | La Liga | 22 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 2 | — | 33 | 12 | ||
| Total | 51 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 3 | — | 69 | 21 | |||
| Career total | 434 | 84 | 39 | 10 | 95 | 13 | 16 | 3 | 584 | 110 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2013 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 8 | 5 | |
| 2018 | 11 | 5 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 39 | 12 | |
- Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Isco goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 November 2014 | Estadio Nuevo Colombino, Huelva, Spain |  Belarus |
1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 2 | 15 November 2016 | Wembley Stadium, London, England |  England |
2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 24 March 2017 | El Molinón, Gijón, Spain |  Israel |
4–1 | 4–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 2 September 2017 | Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain |  Italy |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 2–0 | |||||
| 6 | 5 September 2017 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein |  Liechtenstein |
4–0 | 8–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 6 October 2017 | Estadio José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain |  Albania |
2–0 | 3–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 27 March 2018 | Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain |  Argentina |
2–0 | 6–1 | Friendly |
| 9 | 3–1 | |||||
| 10 | 6–1 | |||||
| 11 | 25 June 2018 | Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia |  Morocco |
1–1 | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup |
| 12 | 11 September 2018 | Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain |  Croatia |
6–0 | 6–0 | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League A |
Honours and Awards
Valencia Mestalla
- Tercera División Group VI: 2010–11
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22
- Copa del Rey: 2013–14
- Supercopa de España: 2017, 2020, 2022
- UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
- UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
Real Betis
- UEFA Conference League runner-up: 2024–25
Spain U17
- FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 2009
Spain U21
Spain
- UEFA Nations League runner-up: 2024–25
Individual
- Golden Boy Award: 2012
- La Liga Breakthrough Player: 2012
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Bronze Boot: 2013
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2013
- Trofeo Bravo: 2013
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2016–17
- La Liga Player of the Month: April 2024, March 2025
- La Liga Play of the Month: April 2024 (with Nabil Fekir)
- La Liga Team of the Season: 2023–24, 2024–25
- UEFA Conference League Player of the Season: 2024–25
- UEFA Conference League Team of the Season: 2024–25
- The Athletic La Liga Team of the Season: 2024–25
See also
In Spanish: Isco para niños
