Player Profile
Alex Baena
Alex Baena
Atletico Madrid
Position
Primary
Attacking Midfielder
Others
Left Winger, Central Midfielder
Atletico 2026 Snapshot
Career
Trophies
Alex Baena remains one of Spain's more creative young midfielders because he can produce chances and final-third detail with his left foot. The 24-year-old gives the team a more expressive attacking-midfield profile. FIFA World Cup 2026.
That makes him an interesting tournament option. Fans tracking him alongside all qualified teams are still following one of the most important names in Spain's road to the tournament.
Team Overview
Baena matters because Spain need creators who can turn controlled possession into real openings. He gives them final-third imagination and delivery quality. Fans who want the full national-team picture can also track him through Spain and the tournament route that runs through the match schedule and the three-country map of the host venues.
That keeps him firmly in the 2026 discussion.
Early Life and Background
Birthplace, family, and youth football journey
Baena was born in Roquetas de Mar on 20 July 2001 and rose through Villarreal's system before becoming a bigger national-team name. His development was built on technique, vision, and left-footed quality.
Those traits still define him.
Club Career
Early clubs and development
Villarreal helped Baena grow from youth promise into a productive senior creator. Later steps only strengthened the sense that his game could influence matches at a higher level too.
That progression made him a real Spain option.
Current club and recent form
Baena remains useful because he can create quickly and with little backlift. Spain benefit from that in games where compact defences need to be opened by craft rather than by chaos.
He offers that kind of quality. Supporters following his club rhythm through the broadcast guide can already see how closely his club form connects to Spain's wider 2026 picture.
Alex Baena — Stats and Performance
| Season | Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2021 | Villarreal B / Girona | 58 | 11 | 10 |
| 2021-2025 | Villarreal | 171 | 27 | 37 |
| 2025-2026 | Atletico Madrid | 37 | 6 | 8 |
Baena's profile is backed by assists, creative numbers, and improving goal involvement. His value comes from final-third quality more than from pure physical dominance.
International Career
Caps, goals, and major tournaments
Spain are still defining the exact size of Baena's senior role, but the skill set is clear. He offers left-footed creativity and different attacking angles from midfield.
That gives him real tournament value.
| National team | Caps | Goals | Tournament involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 14 | 2 | UEFA Euro 2024-winning cycle midfielder |
Playing Style and Key Strengths
Position, role, and standout qualities
Baena is a left-footed creator who likes to receive in half-spaces and play forward early. He can cross, slide passes between lines, and help set the rhythm near the box.
That creative sharpness is his biggest strength.
Personal Info and Profile
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Alejandro Baena Rodriguez |
| Date of birth | 20 July 2001 |
| Age | 24 |
| Nationality | Spain |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (174 cm) |
| Weight | 154 lbs (70 kg) |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Preferred foot | Left |
| Current club | Atletico Madrid |
| Contract end | 2030 |
| Transfer value | €55M |
| Jersey number | 16 |
| Weekly salary | €120,000 |
| Estimated net worth | €8 million |
Transfer News and Market Value
Baena's 2026 story is about role growth rather than major transfer instability. He is already in a strong football environment, so the focus is on how influential he can become for Spain.
That is the more important question.
Salary and Net Worth
Public salary reporting places Alex Baena around the €120,000-per-week level, which works out to roughly €6.24 million per year. That fits a highly rated young creative midfielder.
Public wealth estimates in 2026 commonly place him around the €8 million mark. The exact private total can vary, but that is the clearest broad benchmark.
Alex Baena 2026 Style, Strengths, and Tournament Outlook
Baena's biggest strength is left-footed creativity from advanced midfield areas. Spain can use him to add more invention against organised blocks.
The challenge is finding enough minutes in a very competitive creative group.
Even so, he remains a very interesting option. Fans can follow the detail through fixture pages, the live race in the group standings, and real-time updates on live scores.