Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio perhaps hasn't fulfilled his superstar potential, but the Spaniard has nonetheless been a serviceable option in the capital for a number of years.
A productive loan spell with Espanyol was succeeded by a promising debut season with Los Blancos before his wondergoal against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup ahead of the 2017/18 season thrust Real supporters into a state of delirium regarding Asensio's talent.
It was Zinedine Zidane that likened Asensio to Lionel Messi amid his rise, but the pair's relationship during the Frenchman's couple of stints at the helm wasn't always so fruitful. Injuries have blighted Asensio and he has deteriorated in significance as a result.
Links with a move away became constant, but he's once again found a role following Carlo Ancelotti's return as a clutch performer off the bench. Asensio has rediscovered his scoring touch over the past two seasons, and his latest strike has seen him equal a scoring record of his former manager.
Marco Asensio matches Zinedine Zidane's La Liga scoring tally for Real Madrid
Asensio's Real Madrid career looked to have been fading into obscurity amid the emergence of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Federico Valverde towards the end of Zidane's second reign.
However, Ancelotti offered him a new lease of life and he enjoyed the most prolific La Liga season of his career to date in 2021/22 as Real lifted the league title. Asensio scored ten times in 31 appearances - a tally Zidane failed to reach during his five seasons at the club as a player.
And despite making just 14 league starts this term, Asensio looks poised to hit double-digit goals in La Liga for the second season in succession. He's currently scored nine with four games remaining, and his strike on Sunday in Real's 1-0 win over Getafe took his La Liga tally with the club up to 37 which matched Zidane's scoring haul in the Spanish top-flight.
It's certainly unfair to compare the two both from a positional and talent perspective, but Zidane has been accused, particularly by author and sports writer Michael Cox, of perhaps not showing his best stuff over the course of a 38-game season. The Frenchman dazzled when it mattered most, however, and is rightfully regarded as one of the greatest to ever do it.
Marco Asensio's La Liga scoring record
Asensio's 2021/22 season went under the radar amid the brilliance of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junuior as Real embarked on a sensational Champions League journey to accompany their La Liga triumph.
The Spaniard has continued to impress this season, but his goals will come in a losing effort after Barcelona secured their first La Liga title since 2019. Asensio's resurgence was a timely one after falling down the pecking order under Zidane.
Injury struggles crippled the Covid-hit 2019/20 season as he made just nine league appearances. The season before, Asensio scored a measly one league goal in 30 games.
Overall, while the winger has won three league titles, three Champions Leagues and a Copa del Rey, he wasn't a major contributor to any of the club's major triumphs before the 2021/22 title-winning season.
Zinedine Zidane's La Liga scoring record
Zidane's world record arrival in 2001 came a year into the Galacticos era at Real Madrid spearheaded by president Florentino Perez.
However, despite the consistent additions of Europe's most exciting attacking talent, Real underachieved during Zidane's five years at the club. Entertainment was favoured over balance, and Los Blancos won just one La Liga during Zidane's stay. The superlative midfielder scored nine goals and added 12 assists during Real's title-winning season - his best in the Spanish capital.
Between 2003 and 2006, Zidane failed to lift any silverware with the club.
Marco Asensio's Real Madrid scoring record compared to Zinedine Zidane's
Where do Marco Asensio & Zinedine Zidane rank in Real Madrid's all-time scoring charts?
Asensio tops Zidane in the all-time scoring charts, but he has made 55 more appearances than the legendary Frenchman. Both, however, average/averaged a goal every 4.6 games for Los Blancos.
Asensio's recent proficiency has massively helped his cause. As many as 24 of the winger's 61 Real Madrid goals have come in his last 89 appearances for the club.
The Spaniard has moved up to 32nd in Real's all-time scoring charts ahead of the likes of Luis Figo (57) and Jorge Valdano (55). As for Zidane, his 49 goals see him rank 43rd all-time alongside Davor Suker. However, the Frenchman could be usurped by Luka Modric (37) by the time the Croatian hangs up his boots, although that's unlikely, while Rodrygo (34) will be expected to surpass Zidane's tally in the next 18 months.
This article was originally published on 90min as Marco Asensio equals scoring tally of Real Madrid legend.
