Atlético Madrid played out the 2025/26 season in such a way that has left us scratching our heads wondering what to make of it.
While historic wins over rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona were greatly enjoyed, falling in the Copa del Rey final and UEFA Champions League semi-final has rojiblancos around the world thinking “what might have been?”
In the first of Into the Calderón’s seasonal player ratings, we dissect the performances in the backline and in goal across this near-great campaign.
Goalkeeper ratings
Jan Oblak:
Super Jan came into this season off the back of winning a record-breaking sixth Zamora trophy in 2024/25. A mixture of injuries, the rise of his number two and some questionable performances have seen his position as starting goalkeeper cast into doubt, as well as his future at Atlético Madrid.
Oblak exit rumours are not new to Atleti fans, but for the first time, they exist not because a top team wants to take one of Europe’s highest performing keepers, but that because his time in Madrid may be up. Failure to keep a clean sheet in any of the 12 Champions League matches in which he played won’t have helped his stock when it comes to potential suitors for the Slovenian.
Rating: 4/10
Juan Musso: Widely regarded as the best back-up goalkeeper in Diego Simeone’s tenure at Atlético, Musso might have become more than that thanks to his breakout season at the Estadio Metropolitano. Having a breakout season isn’t normal for a 32-year-old, but performances in the Copa del Rey and important matches during Oblak’s injured spells have earned him the chance to go to his first World Cup for Argentina.
While he may not get any minutes ahead of Emiliano Martínez, his dressing room contribution could be equally as key for his national team as it has been for Atleti. It is clear that he has become one of the leading characters in the squad, even wearing the captain’s armband on occasion.
If he is to take on more importance next season, Musso must consider his temperature levels when it comes to making challenges inside his own box. The Argentine gave away two penalties this season, including one in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Rating: 7/10
Full-back ratings
Marcos Llorente: This man (God) has a strong case for Atlético Madrid’s player of the season. What he lacks in scientific proof to back up claims made in his new book, he makes up for with his ability to plug just about every hole in the Atleti team with exceptional quality.
In Simeone’s full-strength side, Llorente would feature as the right-back, which is why he finds himself in this piece and not the midfielder ratings. However, with Pablo Barrios’ and Johnny Cardoso’s injuries, he regularly stepped in alongside Koke in the middle of the team, bringing a superb energy to proceedings. Four Champions League goals earned him a place in UEFA’s official team of the tournament, giving him further exposure to the eye outside of LALIGA.
Llorente’s unmatched pace, calmness on the ball and relentless determination to win back every ball makes him an ideal member in any team. He will be the perfect squad player for Luis de la Fuente to take to the World Cup this summer.
Rating: 8/10
Nahuel Molina: Should we be surprised that Molina has completely reverted his projected career pathway in a season preceding a World Cup? Though still second favourite to Llorente in an ideal world, he has seemingly won back the hearts of the fans who have ruthlessly mocked him for so long, providing some spectacular moments in this topsy-turvy season.
His Puskás-worthy golazo against Getafe was backed up a week later with another rocket at the Bernabéu in the Madrid derby, unlocking an unlikely source of goals from defence for Atleti. Should he have another impressive World Cup, Atlético might be smart to let him go to a team willing to spend Premier League-type figures on him, as who knows how long this form will hold? With the emergence of Javi Boñar from the B team, Molina if he stays will need to maintain his level next season before he finds himself on the end of the Metropolitano wrath once more.
Rating: 6/10
Matteo Ruggeri: We apologised to the Italian in April for perhaps being slightly quick to pass judgement on his ability. Coming into El Cholo‘s side at a young age isn’t easy for anyone (radio presenter Juanma Castaño recently likened it to serving military duty), and Ruggeri should be credited with the way he has handled his first season at Atlético Madrid.
It is clear he has quickly grown a love for the club — something that should be valued — and he seems to have settled nicely into life in the Spanish capital (especially its nightclubs). Some defensive refinements are definitely needed and, like Musso, he needs to learn the right time to commit to the challenge. His seven assists across all competitions place him well up there among other U23s in Europe in his position, and looks to only want to improve his numbers.
Ratings: 6/10
Javi Galán: It feels like the time Galán used to play for Atleti is a whole world away now, but he did in fact play the full 90 minutes in the opening Champions League match at Anfield, and provide an assist in the Copa del Rey’s last 32 against Atlético Baleares.
The man from Extremadura aptly found it hard to stay in Simeone’s plans as the January window approached, and he was duly shipped off to Osasuna where he has had a mixed six months. Initially, Galán seemed to have fixed a big issue for the side from Pamplona, but a poor end of the season left them just about surviving the drop and securing their place in LALIGA next year.
Rating: 3/10
Center-back ratings
Marc Pubill: By far the surprise package from this season, Pubill has climbed to heights even he has trouble processing when taking into account how his time at Atleti began. Discarded early on by El Cholo, it was revealed that he was the only one of last summer’s signings that the manager didn’t have any say in, and he looked like he was going to be a fringe player. However, Simeone’s genius idea of bringing him from right-back into the heart of defence has enabled him to have a stellar campaign, now culminating in the form of a World Cup call-up with Spain.
Pubill defends in a way that exudes calmness; he rarely ever goes to ground when making a tackle, even capable of winning the ball back and passing it onto a teammate all in one move. The pace he demonstrates is a big factor in allowing him to do this, fooling no one with his tall frame — the boy can run, alright. When needed, he has shown a high level at right-back, almost scoring a worldie away to Osasuna late on in the season from that position.
It’s exciting to have a genuine young superstar in a position where Atleti have struggled to find regularity since the days of Diego Godín and João Miranda, and Pubill’s ceiling is yet to be reached. Hopefully a good World Cup and continued learning can help Atlético Madrid return their defensive numbers back to where they once used to be.
Rating: 7/10
Dávid Hancko: The Slovakian beast is another defender who underwent a position change this season. Signed as somewhere between a left-back and a center-back, it was expected that he’d play on the left side of a back three. However, with the decision to return back to the trusty 4-4-2, Simeone used Hancko as an out-and-out center back for the bulk of the campaign.
His main ability is clearly what he can do on the ball and in the air, as he racked up three goals and three assists across all competitions this season. His form tailed off slightly toward the back end of the year, which could be expected from someone coming into a demanding defensive set up in his first season of doing so. Atléticos will be hoping he can forge a dominant partnership with Pubill that can be enjoyed for years to come, and he has so far made an impressive start.
Rating: 6/10
Robin Le Normand: Pubill’s entrance into Spain’s World Cup squad has come at the expense of Le Normand. An important fixture of his country’s side that won the European Championship (the tournament that earned him the move to Atleti), he now finds himself on an uphill battle to regain some of that old form. Injuries haven’t helped, but Le Normand will have to work hard in preseason to become a regular once more under Simeone. Let’s hope he can cut out his obsession with wrestling with his opponents at every set piece first.
Rating: 4/10
José María Giménez: Watching El Comandante hobble off the field in his final Atleti appearance, holding the boot that belonged to his swollen ankle, was a sad but fitting end to his time at the club. While not 100% confirmed, it is very unlikely the Uruguayan will continue in Madrid, with clubs in South America interested in taking him home.
A 30-page investigation would be needed to determine whether his time in Spain has been successful (at least measured against his perceived potential), but what is for sure is that this has been one of his worst seasons in red and white. It began with some hope, showing early signs of high level and a management of his minutes to allow him to play the most important games, but it ultimately ended with some horror-show performances in what were almost certainly his final outings at Atleti.
Rating: 2/10
Clément Lenglet: The less said, the better about this man, perhaps unfairly thrust into situations way beyond his ability at this stage of his career. He’s all Simeone had at his disposal at times, which spoke volumes of the realities of the squad, even if at times he looked promising. Lenglet has a contract at the club until 2028, but no one will impede his departure should a sale become possible.
Rating: 2/10
