The Prince Who Fell Silent

The story of David Beltrán, the "Prince" of Real Madrid’s academy, is not told through

his goals, but through the silence that followed his final match. Everything revolved

around the 2014 Copa del Rey final against Atlético de Madrid. David,

at just 21 years old, was the rising star—fast, technical, and the natural

heir to the Spanish national team. The drama unfolded in the 72nd minute. David charged toward

the goal after a brilliant piece of skill, dancing past two defenders.

Just as he prepared to strike the ball with his right foot, the opposing center-back, in an act of desperation,

launched a brutal sliding tackle. David’s scream echoed throughout the entire stadium,