Saul Niguez, who has signed for CR Flamengo following their run to the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, is looking to win trophies at his new club. And not only that – he will be hoping he can replicate a very special night he experienced back in 2018.

Saul was picked for the Spain squad as they travelled to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, however he never made it off the bench for La Roja at the tournament – denying him the fulfilment of a childhood dream.

The central midfielder, who came through the youth ranks at Spanish giants Real Madrid C.F. before making the move to city rivals Atlético de Madrid, admitted that he had mixed feelings following that World Cup. He spent months wondering why he never got the nod, despite feeling a sense of pride at being called up to the squad for Russia and for the UEFA Nations League campaign that followed.

He spoke at a press conference a few months after the World Cup in 2018, with Luis Enrique having taken over from Fernando Hierro as head coach, and explained that he was aware that he was not a key figure for Spain, despite the coach saying how important he was to the squad. “The national team doesn’t rely on me, but everything I do is for the good of the team.”

Days later, he experienced his own kind of personal “redemption” that would cure any hurt he may have been feeling at the time. On 11 September 2018, Saul found himself in Spain’s starting lineup for their UEFA Nations League match against Croatia, who had made it to the World Cup final earlier that year. As fate would have it, the match was being played in his home city of Elche.

It was none other than Saul who headed home after 24 minutes to get the ball rolling for Spain, in what would end up being a famous 6-0 win for La Roja. To put that win into context, this was only Croatia’s second defeat in a run stretching back ten matches – the other came at the hands of France in the World Cup final – and still remains the heaviest defeat in a competitive fixture in Croatia’s history.

The Spanish central midfielder was dubbed “The Knight of Elche” by the Spanish media, not just for his goal, but for the way he was able to impact the game with his passing range and breaking through the Croatian press. As much as he would have enjoyed the praise he received from journalists after the game, what meant the most to Saul was the standing ovation he received from the people of Elche when he was brought off in the second half.

“I was lucky enough to play at the Estadio Martinez Valero [in Elche, his home city] and get on the scoresheet,” he said after the match. “That was a special feeling. I think it was the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life. It has been a long road for me to get to this point, and it means so much. Maintaining that humility is non-negotiable.”

With a new adventure awaiting him at Flamengo, who knows what lies ahead for the versatile midfielder? O Mengão are still in the mix for the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores – the team that lift the trophy will also secure their place at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025™ and the FIFA Club World Cup 2029™. Elche’s own might just be the man who gets them there.