Real Madrid forward could equal Gareth Bale’s unique club record in Osasuna clash | OneFootball

Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes begins the 2025/26 La Liga season facing a dilemma over his future. The attacker, who had been pretty much a regular starter under former manager Carlo Ancelotti, finds himself on the periphery in Xabi Alonso’s plans.

Rodrygo’s name consistently appears whenever there is speculation about a possible departure from the Santiago Bernabeu before the transfer window closes.

Several Premier League clubs, including Manchester City, are monitoring his situation.

Rodrygo could equal Gareth Bale’s record

Amidst all the uncertainty and speculation surrounding his future, Rodrygo goes into Real Madrid’s first game of the new La Liga season against Osasuna with a chance to equal a unique record held by club icon Gareth Bale.

Indeed, as reported by MARCA, Rodrygo could join the former Welsh wing-wizard to become the player to score Real Madrid’s first goal in three consecutive La Liga campaigns.

Gareth Bale scoring Real Madrid’s first La Liga goal of the 2017/18 season. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

In each of the last two seasons, it was Rodrygo who scored Real Madrid’s first La Liga goal. Two years ago, he struck the 0-2 against Athletic Club, whereas last year, he opened the scoring vs Mallorca in a match that ended 1-1.

The likes of Pirri (5), Karim Benzema (4), and Raul Gonzalez (4) have opened Real Madrid’s goalscoring account in a new La Liga season on multiple occasions.

Yet in the competition’s entire history since 1929, only one player has scored Real Madrid’s first goal in three consecutive seasons: Gareth Bale.

The Welshman achieved the record by scoring the opening goals against Real Betis (August 2015, after a 0-0 draw in Gijon in the first round), Real Sociedad (0-3, 2016), and Deportivo La Coruna (0-3, 2017).

Rodrygo now has the chance to equal Bale’s record by becoming the Merengues’ opening scorer for the third season in a row. Although, considering that he is unlikely to start on Tuesday against Osasuna, chances of achieving that might be slim.