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Marco Asensio
Marco Asensio 2018.jpg
Asensio with Real Madrid in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-01-21) 21 January 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Height 1.82 m
Playing position Winger, attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club Paris Saint-Germain
Number 11
Youth career
2003–2006 Platges de Calvià
2006–2013 Mallorca
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Mallorca B 14 (3)
2013–2014 Mallorca 37 (4)
2014–2023 Real Madrid 191 (37)
2014–2015 Mallorca (loan) 19 (3)
2015–2016 Espanyol (loan) 34 (4)
2023– Paris Saint-Germain 4 (2)
National team
2012 Spain U16 2 (0)
2014–2015 Spain U19 12 (8)
2015–2017 Spain U21 18 (7)
2021 Spain Olympic 7 (1)
2016– Spain 38 (2)
Honours
Men's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA Nations League
Winner 2023 Netherlands
Olympic Games
Silver 2020 Tokyo Team
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 2017 Poland
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2015 Greece
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:05, 9 December 2023 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:58, 8 September 2023 (UTC)

Marco Asensio Willemsen (Spanish: [ˈmaɾko aˈsensjo]; Dutch: [ˈʋɪləmsə(n)]; born 21 January 1996) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Spain national team.

After starting his career with Mallorca, Asensio signed for Real Madrid in November 2014, being consecutively loaned to his former club as well as Espanyol. With Real Madrid, he went on to win several honours, including three Champions League and three La Liga trophies. In 2023, he joined French club Paris Saint-Germain.

Asensio made his senior debut for Spain in 2016, representing them at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Early life

Born in Palma, Majorca, Balearic Islands, to a Dutch mother and a Spanish father, Asensio joined Mallorca in 2006 from Platges de Calvià. His mother, Maria Willemsen, died of cancer when he was 15.

Asensio struggled with growth deficiencies in his knees during his youth, which only subsided when he was a teenager.

Club career

Mallorca

After being scouted by Real Madrid and Barcelona, Asensio made his senior debut with Mallorca's reserves in the 2013–14 season in the Tercera División, despite still being a junior; he made his first competitive appearance for the first team on 27 October 2013, playing the last six minutes in a 1–3 away loss against Recreativo de Huelva in the Segunda División.

Again from the bench, Asensio played the last six minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Lugo. After impressing in his first games, he was promoted to the first team by manager José Luis Oltra.

Asensio scored his first professional goal on 16 March 2014, netting the first in a 2–0 home win over Tenerife. He was made a starter under new coach Valeri Karpin, scoring against Osasuna, Deportivo Alavés and Llagostera within a month.

Real Madrid

On 24 November 2014, Real Madrid reached an agreement in principle to sign Asensio. On 5 December the deal was officially announced, with the player (who had been a supporter of the club as a child) signing a six-year deal for a 3.9 million fee and remaining with the Bermellones on loan until the end of the campaign. According to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal played a crucial role in the transfer of Marco Asensio to Real Madrid.

2015–16: Loan to Espanyol

On 20 August 2015, after making the whole pre-season with Real Madrid, Asensio was loaned to Espanyol in La Liga. He played his first game in the competition on 19 September, featuring 86 minutes in a 3–2 success at Real Sociedad, and he ended his spell at the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with 12 overall assists.

2016–17 season: Return to Real Madrid

Returning to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for 2016–17, Asensio's first competitive appearance took place on 9 August, as he played the full 120 minutes and scored a 25-meter effort in a 3–2 win against fellow Spaniards Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup. He made his first league start 12 days later, netting the second goal in a 3–0 success at Real Sociedad.

Asensio featured 23 times over his first season, scoring three times as the club won the national championship for the first time since 2012. He added as many goals in that year's UEFA Champions League, including one in the final against Juventus (4–1) to give the Spaniards their 12th title in the latter competition.

2017–18 season

Asensio 2018 (cropped)
Asensio playing for Real Madrid against Juventus in 2018

Asensio scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season with a 25-yard finish in a 3–1 win over Barcelona at the Camp Nou, for the Supercopa de España, He repeated the feat with a similarly spectacular effort in the second leg, in a 5–1 aggregate triumph.

On 28 September 2017, Asensio extended his contract until 2023. On 18 February 2018, in a match where he contributed with a brace to a 5–3 away win over Real Betis, he scored Real Madrid's 6,000th goal in the Spanish top division.

Asensio made 11 appearances while scoring one goal during the 2017–18 Champions League, and the club won its third consecutive and 13th overall title in the competition.

2019–2023: Final seasons

Ofrenda de la Liga y la Champions-22-L.Millán (52109789880)
Asensio in trophy presentation ceremony at Virgin of Almudena in 2022

On 24 July 2019, during a preseason match against Arsenal, he tore his ACL. On 19 June 2020, in a 3–0 win over Valencia, he came on for Federico Valverde in 74th minute, scored the second goal with his first touch, and provided the assist to Karim Benzema for the third goal. He returned for the final stretch of the season, scoring three goals in nine games, as Real Madrid won the 2019–20 La Liga.

On 22 September 2021, he scored his first senior hat-trick against his former club Mallorca, which ended in a 6–1 victory.

On 28 May 2022, Asensio was on the bench against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League Final as Real Madrid went on to win their 14th UEFA Champions League title. Asensio ended the 2021–22 season with 10 goals in 30 La Liga games. He also won the 2021–22 La Liga with his club Real Madrid.

On 3 June 2023, Real Madrid confirmed that Asensio would be departing upon the expiry of his contract, thus becoming a free agent.

Paris Saint-Germain

On 6 July 2023, Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) announced the signing of Asensio, with a contract running until June 2026. He made his debut in a 0–0 draw against Lorient at the Parc des Princes on 12 August. Two weeks later, in his second match for the club, Asensio scored his first PSG goal, the opener in a 3–1 home win over Lens. In the following match away to Lyon on 3 September, he scored another goal and provided the assist for Kylian Mbappé's second in a 4–1 victory for Les Parisiens.

International career

Marco Asensio, UEFA U21 2017 c
Asensio during a 2017 European Under-21 Championship match against Portugal

Being of both Dutch and Spanish descent, he chose to represent Spain although he received an invitation from the Royal Dutch Football Association. After being a regular for Spain at youth level, Asensio made his debut for the under-21 team on 26 March 2015, coming on as a late substitute for goalscorer Gerard Deulofeu in a 2–0 friendly win over Norway in Cartagena. In July, he was part of the victorious under-19 side at the UEFA European Championship in Greece, where he scored both goals in a semi-final victory over France in Katerini, in the 88th minute and in added time.

On 17 May 2016, Asensio and Espanyol teammate Pau López were called up to the full side for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He made his debut on the 29th, starting in the 3–1 win in Switzerland.

ESP-RUS (14)
Asensio playing for Spain in 2018 FIFA World Cup against Russia

Selected in the squad for the 2017 European Under-21 Championship by manager Albert Celades, Asensio scored a hat-trick in his debut in the competition, helping to a 5–0 group stage routing of Macedonia. He reached with his teammates the final of the tournament, losing 1–0 against Germany.

Back with the seniors, he was included in Julen Lopetegui's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, making his debut in the competition on 20 June by replacing Real Madrid teammate Lucas Vázquez for the final ten minutes of the 1–0 group stage win against Iran.

Asensio scored his first goal for Spain on 11 September 2018, playing the entire 6–0 home rout of Croatia for the UEFA Nations League and also being directly involved in the play that led to Lovre Kalinić's own goal.

In July 2021, he was included as overage player in the 22-player squad of the under-23 team for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

In November 2022, Asensio was included in Spain's final 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup. He started against Costa Rica in the opening fixture of Spain's World Cup campaign, and scored the second goal against Costa Rica which Spain won 7–0.

Personal life

Asensio's father, Gilberto (a Basque who spent his childhood in Essen, Germany), was also a footballer. Also an attacking midfielder, he represented Barakaldo CF as a youth; Marco's elder brother Igor played for Platges de Calvià, as a defender.

Asensio's goal celebration in the 2017 Champions League final was dedicated to his family: "I told them that if I scored then I'd run to where they were. I knew where they were and that is what I did."

Asensio got married to his long-term girlfriend Sandra Garal on 10 July 2023.

Career statistics

Club

Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mallorca B 2013–14 Tercera División 14 3 14 3
Mallorca (loan) 2013–14 Segunda División 20 1 0 0 20 1
2014–15 Segunda División 36 6 0 0 36 6
Total 56 7 0 0 56 7
Espanyol (loan) 2015–16 La Liga 34 4 3 0 37 4
Real Madrid 2016–17 La Liga 23 3 6 3 8 3 1 1 38 10
2017–18 La Liga 32 6 5 2 12 1 4 2 53 11
2018–19 La Liga 30 1 5 3 7 2 2 0 44 6
2019–20 La Liga 9 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 10 3
2020–21 La Liga 35 5 1 0 11 2 1 0 48 7
2021–22 La Liga 31 10 2 1 8 1 1 0 42 12
2022–23 La Liga 31 9 5 0 12 3 3 0 51 12
Total 191 37 24 9 59 12 12 3 286 61
Paris Saint-Germain 2023–24 Ligue 1 4 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 6 2
Career total 299 53 27 9 61 12 12 3 399 77

International

National team Year Apps Goals
Spain
2016 2 0
2017 6 0
2018 12 1
2019 4 0
2020 2 0
2022 9 1
2023 3 0
Total 38 2

Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Asensio goal.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 September 2018 Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain  Croatia 2–0 6–0 2018–19 UEFA Nations League A
2 23 November 2022 Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Costa Rica 2–0 7–0 2022 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Real Madrid

Spain U19

  • UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2015

Spain U21

Spain Olympic

Spain

Individual

  • Segunda División Player of the Month: October 2014
  • UEFA European Under-19 Championship Golden Player: 2015
  • La Liga Breakthrough Player: 2015–16
  • UEFA European Under-21 Championship Silver Boot: 2017
  • UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2017
  • UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2017

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Marco Asensio para niños

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