Rodrygo Shines in Real Madrid’s Victory and Shows Support for Santos

On Tuesday, Real Madrid secured a 2-1 win against Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Rodrygo, named UEFA’s Player of the Match, celebrated the hard-fought victory and expressed satisfaction with his performance. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said, “I’m very happy. I think I deserved this recognition after some matches. It was tough, but we won.”

The forward emphasized Real Madrid’s winning mentality, stating that every game demands a victory when wearing their iconic jersey. He acknowledged Atlético’s strong performance but highlighted Brahim Díaz’s decisive late goal and his own contribution with an earlier strike.

“It’s always special to score in the Champions League, win a match with this shirt, and be named the best player,” he added. Rodrygo also shifted focus to the future, urging his team to maintain momentum despite a recent setback in domestic competition.

“We stumbled in the last game, but now we move forward. We won today, and that’s what matters,” he said. The Brazilian forward, who began his career at Santos, expressed support for his former club.

This comes ahead of their Paulista Championship semifinal against Corinthians on Sunday at Neo Química Arena. “It’ll be tough for Santos there, but I’m always rooting for Peixão. I hope they make it to the final,” Rodrygo said.

Rodrygo also explained his celebratory gesture—pointing to himself and saying “I’m here”—which has become iconic during Champions League matches. He revealed it was pre-planned with family and reflected his confidence in delivering during Europe’s elite competition.

“It’s a bit of fun, but it’s true—things always seem to work out for me in this tournament,” he remarked about his standout performances in the Champions League. The victory gives Carlo Ancelotti’s team an advantage heading into the second leg on March 12 at Estadio Metropolitano.

Real Madrid only needs a draw to advance to the quarterfinals, while Atlético must win by two goals to progress outright. A one-goal victory for Atlético would push the match into extra time or penalties if necessary.

Before that decisive clash, Real Madrid faces Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in La Liga’s 27th round at Santiago Bernabéu. The match kicks off at 12:15 PM (Brasília time).