Defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is crucial to Real Madrid. For the 2024–25 season, great forwards Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde receive most of the acclaim and Ballon d’Or affection.

One of the world’s top No. 6s, Tchouameni screens the defense so well that he can play center back alone and produce wonderful passes with his football IQ and physical skill. No one on Real Madrid can match him.

Tchouameni was overlooked in Real’s 3-1 win over Stuttgart to start the 2024–25 Champions League season, but one pass should be revisited.

Tchouameni looked over his shoulder and hit the ball over his body with one touch from his own half. It went straight to right-winger Rodrygo Goes in the final third.

Before reaching Rodrygo, the ball skipped before the defender and over his anxiously raised leg. He just had to gallop into space and pass to Kylian Mbappe, who scored Real Madrid’s first goal against Stuttgart with his fifth of the season.

It was a brilliant, quick move that reminded me of Jose Mourinho’s prime at Real Madrid. Tchouameni’s pass to Rodrygo before Mbappe’s score reminded Madrid fans of Toni Kroos or Xabi Alonso.