Isco represented Spain at various youth levels, including at the2012 Olympics, and made his senior international debut in 2013, later taking part at the2018 FIFA World Cup.
While still registered with the reserves, Isco made his debut with the first team on 11 November 2010, againstLogroñés in the2010–11 Copa del Rey, scoring two goals in a 4–1 home win (Paco Alcácer made his senior debut in the same fixture).[5][6] He played his firstLa Liga match three days later, featuring for 20 minutes in a 2–0 home win againstGetafe after coming on as asubstitute forAritz Aduriz;[7] he thereafter made three further league appearances and two in theUEFA Champions League, all from the bench,[8] and helped the B-teamreturn to the third level by scoring 15 goals in their campaign.[9][10]
In mid-July 2011, Isco moved back to his home province and signed a five-year contract withMálaga after the club activated hisbuy-out clause of €6 million.[11] He scored his first goal for his new team on 21 November 2011, starting in a 3–1 away win againstRacing de Santander;[12] he netted again the following week in a 2–1 win againstVillarreal,[13] and finishedhis first season with 32 games and five goals as the side qualified for theUEFA Champions League for the first time in its history.
On 18 September 2012, in Málaga's first game in the Champions League group stage, Isco netted twice in a 3–0 home win overZenit, also being chosen asMan of the Match.[14] On 22 December he scored the first goal in an eventual 3–2 win againstReal Madrid atLa Rosaleda, leading the locals to their first victory over that opponent in 29 years;[15] in December he won theGolden Boy award, beatingStephan El Shaarawy andThibaut Courtois.[16][17]
On 28 January 2013, Isco ended speculation regarding his future by signing a new contract with Málaga – his new buyout clause was set at €35 million.[18] He scored his eleventh goal of the campaign on 13 March, netting the opener in a 2–0 home win againstPorto, good enough forlast-eight qualification after the 0–1 first leg loss at theEstádio do Dragão.[19][20]
On 17 June 2013, Isco confirmed that he had received offers from Real Madrid and former Málaga managerManuel Pellegrini'sManchester City, but stated he would only make a final decision on his future after theUEFA European Under-21 Championship final.[21] On 26 June, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez confirmed that a deal had been reached with the player and that he would be presented by the club next week, once he passed his medical;[22] the following day he signed a five-year contract, with Real Madrid paying €30 million for his services, thus becoming the first signing of newly appointed managerCarlo Ancelotti.[23]
Isco with Real Madrid in 2013
On 18 August 2013 Isco made his official debut for theMerengues, recording anassist and scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 home win overReal Betis, the latter coming through an 85th-minute header.[24] He continued with his form by netting two goals againstAthletic Bilbao on 1 September (3–1, also at theSantiago Bernabéu).[25]
Isco playing for Real Madrid in 2015
In spite of continuing to score regularly when featured, Isco received limited opportunities in the first team due to the4–3–3 formation not being suited for his style, but Ancelotti stated that it was "a temporary problem".[26] He scored 11 goals in 53 official games inhis first season. He played 61 minutes in theChampions League final, a 4–1 win overAtlético Madrid inLisbon.[27]
Prior to the start of the2015–16 season, Isco switched his shirt number from 23 to 22, which he had previously worn at Málaga.[32] On 21 November 2015, as Real lost 0–4 at home toBarcelona inEl Clásico, he was sent off in the 84th minute for a foul onNeymar.[33] He scored twice on 2 December, as the team won 3–1 atCádiz in the first leg of the last 32 of the domestic cup.[34] Isco was a part-time starter when the team won the2015–16 UEFA Champions League defeating Atlético Madrid 5–3 on penalties inthe final played at theSan Siro inMilan, Italy.[35]
On 8 August 2017, Isco scored a goal in the2017 UEFA Super Cup, contributing to Real Madrid's 2–1 victory againstManchester United. His performance earned him the man of the match award.[39] In September 2017, he signed a new deal with Real Madrid until June 2022.[40] During the2017–18 UEFA Champions League, he made eleven appearances, when Madrid won their third consecutive and 13th overall Champions League title as they beatLiverpool 3–1 inKyiv.[41] He made 23 appearances during the league season, as Real Madrid won the2019–20 La Liga.[42] In the2021–22 season he was not an important player underCarlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid triumphed in2021–22 La Liga and the2021–22 UEFA Champions League. On 30 May 2022, Isco confirmed on social media that he was leaving the club after nine years.[43][44]
On 7 August 2022,Sevilla announced that the club reached an agreement in principle for the signing of Isco, with the player agreeing to a two-year contract.[45] On 21 December 2022, Isco and Sevilla agreed to terminate their contract.[46] On 22 December, Sevilla coachJorge Sampaoli said Isco "did not meet the club's expectations".[47]
In the January transfer window, Isco came close to signing withBundesliga clubUnion Berlin. However, on 31 January 2023, the deal collapsed, despite him passing medical tests, as the German club claimed that he made new demands that differed from the original agreement.[48] However Isco’s representatives also claimed that Union Berlin has amended the contract the moment before Isco was going to sign it, in terms of both sporting terms and salary.[49]
On 26 July 2023, Isco joined Sevilla's rivalsReal Betis on a one-year deal.[50] On 13 August 2023, during the opening matchday of La Liga, Isco played his first game for Betis, facing off against Villarreal.[51] Later, on 28 August, he netted his first goal for Betis when they played againstAthletic Bilbao, marking an end to his year-long absence from the scoresheet. However, despite his goal, Betis suffered a 4–2 defeat.[52]
On 28 December 2023, Isco extended his contract with Betis until June 2027.[53] In the2023–24 season, he was the player with most man of the match awards in La Liga, having received it in 19 occasions.[54]
Isco appeared withSpain's U17 in2009 World Cup, scoring three times in the process as the team finished third. In 2011, he representedhis country – together with Málaga teammateRecio – in theU-20 World Cup held inColombia, netting one goal in an eventual quarter-final exit.
On 28 February 2012, Isco was called to theSpain under-23s team for afriendly againstEgypt, but did not leave the bench.[56] On 15 May he was picked for the first time to thesenior team for friendlies withSerbia andSouth Korea, but took no part in either match. In July, he went with the under-23 team to theOlympics in London,[57] starting all of Spain's matches as they were eliminated without scoring a goal.
On 6 February 2013, Isco made his debut with the main squad, playing the last 30 minutes in a 3–1 win overUruguay inDoha, Qatar.[58] Alsothat year he appeared at theUEFA European Under-21 Championship inIsrael, he scored in thefinal and finished the competition with theBronze Boot (3 Goals) and made the team of the tournament as a key player for the eventual winners.[59][60]
Isco scored his firsthat-trick for Spain on 27 March 2018, netting three goals againstArgentina in a 6–1 friendly win.[62]
In May 2018, Isco was named in Spain's finalsquad for the2018 FIFA World Cup.[63] He scored his first and only goal in the lastgroup stage match againstMorocco, in an eventual 2–2 draw. His goal helped the team to qualify to the second round as group winners.[64]
In May 2021, Isco was omitted from Spain's 26-man squad forUEFA Euro 2020.[65]
On 26 May 2025, Isco was recalled to the squad by managerLuis de la Fuente for theUEFA Nations League Finals in Germany, marking his return after a six-year absence. In the final againstPortugal, he successfully converted his penalty attempt in a 5-3 shootout loss, following a 2-2 draw.[66][67]
A quick, skillful and creative player, with excellent technique and ball control, Isco is known for his natural ability to pick out an inch-perfect pass,dribble effortlessly through two or three challenges or drift a shot into the top corner of the goal.[70][71][72] His one-step-ahead reading of the game, his anticipation of space and the general directing of his side's performances are his most common traits.
In 2013, Isco was credited byMarca journalist Pablo Polo as being "the most promising young player in Spanish football", comparing his strength, skill, and low centre of gravity toSergio Agüero, and his vision and passing abilities toZinedine Zidane.[73] Former Real Madrid captainIker Casillas predicted in 2015 that Isco would become Spain's most important player.[74][75]
^"Isco, ganador del prestigioso Golden Boy" [Isco, winner of prestigious Golden Boy award] (in Spanish). Málaga's official website. 22 December 2012. Retrieved4 April 2013.
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
