Álex Baena

Alejandro "Álex" Baena Rodríguez (born 20 July 2001) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left midfielder or attacking midfielder for club Atlético Madrid and the Spain national team.

Club career Villarreal Baena was born in Roquetas de Mar, He made his senior debut with the C-team on 21 December 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 Tercera División home victory against Rayo Ibense.

Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Baena was assigned to the reserves in Segunda División B, debuting as a starter on 14 September 2019 in a 3–0 victory against Llagostera. On 13 July of the following year, he made his first-team league debut, replacing fellow youth graduate Manu Trigueros in a 1–2 home loss against Real Sociedad.

Baena scored his first professional goal on 5 November 2020, netting his club's third in a 4–0 UEFA Europa League home routing of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Seven days later, he renewed his contract until 2025. On 19 August 2021, Baena moved to Segunda División club Girona on a one-year loan. On 26 August 2022, he and teammate Nicolas Jackson were fully promoted to the main squad. In the 2023–24 season, he became the top assist provider in La Liga with 14 assists.

Atlético Madrid On 2 July 2025, Baena joined Atlético Madrid, signing a five-year-contract. Later that year, on 27 October, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 away win over Real Betis.

International career Baena represented Spain at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, appearing in the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He also called up to the under-21 team for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship where Spain finished as runners-up.

In August 2023, Baena received his first call-up to the Spain senior national team by head coach Luis de la Fuente, for two UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Georgia and Cyprus. He went on to score his first goal for Spain on his debut against the latter opponent in a 6–0 victory. In May 2024, Baena was named in the 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.

In July 2024, Baena was included in the Spain U23 squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He scored a goal from a free kick in the gold medal match against France, where Spain won by 5–3 after extra time.

On 25 May 2026, Baena was named in Spain's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A month later, on 26 June, he scored the only goal and was named Man of the Match in a 1–0 victory over Uruguay, helping his country secure a place in the knockout stage. He started the World Cup final, which ended in a 1–0 victory over Argentina after extra time. With the triumph, he became the first player to win the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championship, and an Olympic gold medal.

Career statistics Club

International

Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Baena goal.

Atlético Madrid Copa del Rey runner-up: 2025–26

Spain U21 UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2023

Spain FIFA World Cup: 2026 UEFA European Championship: 2024 UEFA Nations League runner-up: 2024–25

Individual La Liga top assist provider: 2023–24