Fede Valverde, Real Madrid’s unsung hero, deserves to be a superstar after yet another incredible season.

The Uruguayan midfielder is frequently overlooked, but if Los Blancos are to win their 15th European Cup on Saturday, he will be crucial.

The allure of Federico Valverde is his elusiveness. In his five complete seasons with Real Madrid, the Uruguayan midfielder has moved across the field, filling in where needed and settling into positions that frequently seem outside of his comfort zone. However, Valverde has always performed admirably when asked to execute a task by Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane.

Despite his versatility, there was still a feeling that this gifted player had more to offer; all he needed to do was find a spot on the field where he could stay for the long haul. And with Valverde now flourishing in a deep-lying role within Madrid’s tweaked 4-4-2, Ancelotti may have finally unlocked it this season.

Valverde has developed into the midfielder he was always meant to be, the unsung hero in the middle of the park who will be essential if Los Blancos are to win their 15th European Cup in Saturday’s Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, despite the fact that his goals, assists, and chance creation numbers are all down.