Spectacular goals, silky skills and pinpoint passes – Marco Asensio has built a reputation as one of the finest attacking talents in Europe during his career.
The 29-year-old will soon be strutting his stuff in an Aston Villa shirt after arriving on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
Asensio has thrilled fans across the continent with his performances for Real Madrid and PSG, creating many magic moments along the way.
Here are five of the best…
Glorious golazo on Real Madrid debut
Asensio’s childhood dream came true when he signed for Real Madrid from Mallorca in late 2014.
He stayed with Mallorca on loan for the rest of the 2014/15 season before spending the next campaign continuing to make a name for himself on loan at Espanyol.
So by the time he was selected to make his Madrid debut on 9th August 2016 in the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla, Asensio was ready to shine.
Just 21 minutes into the game, Asensio showed his talent to the world with an incredible left-foot strike from distance that swerved into the top corner.
As well as scoring on debut, he got to lift a trophy as his side scored in the final minute of extra-time to win 3-2.
A Champion of Europe for the first time
Asensio won the first of his three UEFA Champions League titles as a Real Madrid player when they beat Juventus 4-1 in the 2017 final in Cardiff.
Introduced as an 82nd-minute substitute with the score at 3-1, the Palma native put the finishing touches on a momentous night for Los Blancos.
He arrived in the box at exactly the right time to turn home Marcelo’s cross, sending a first-time shot into the far corner.
Spanish Super Cup stunner
In August 2017, Real Madrid led rivals Barcelona 2-1 in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup at the Camp Nou as the match headed into the final minute.
The hosts were on the attack and probing for an equaliser when Madrid pounced on a loose pass and sprung a counter-attack from deep inside their own half.
Lucas Vázquez carried the ball forward into Barcelona’s half before feeding Asensio, who advanced a yard into the area and unleashed a fierce left-footed strike that flew past Marc-André ter Stegen and clipped the crossbar before nestling in the top corner.
It was a fine way for the forward to net his first El Clásico goal.
Spanish Super Cup stunner Part II
Just three days after his screamer in the first leg, Asensio scored another worldie to help Madrid to capture the Super Cup.
The second leg was just four minutes old when the Spaniard picked the ball up 30 yards from goal.
With no Barcelona players coming to close him down, Asensio took aim and sent a drive dipping under the crossbar and into the back of the net, leaving ter Stegen to stand and watch.
Starring for Spain on the world stage
Asensio helped his country get off to the best possible start at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar when they took on Costa Rica.
The Spaniards had established a 1-0 lead when the playmaker stepped up to double their advantage after 21 minutes.
Once again showing a knack for arriving in the box at the right time, he steered Jordi Alba’s cross past former Madrid teammate Keylor Navas.
It was Asensio’s second goal for his country, helping them to a 7-0 victory in Qatar.
Welcome to Aston Villa, Marco! 🇪🇸