Roberto Soldado
Spanish striker who scored 129 goals in 325 La Liga appearances across 13 seasons.
Roberto Soldado Rillo (born 27 May 1985) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker. After emerging through Real Madrid's youth system, he went on to appear in only 27 official matches for the first team (four goals). However, he became a more regular La Liga player and scorer for Osasuna, Getafe and Valencia, and secured a £26 million move to Tottenham Hotspur. After two unsuccessful seasons in England, he returned to the Spanish top division with Villarreal; over 13 seasons in the latter competition, he recorded figures of 325 games and 129 goals. An international since 2007, Soldado represented Spain at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
- role
- Striker
- affiliation
- Villarreal CF (2015–2017)
- status
- Retired from active play
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Born in Valencia, Soldado joined Real Madrid at the age of 15 from native region small club CF Don Bosco. After years of prolific goalscoring with the former's reserves, he made his first-team debut on 23 October 2005 against Valencia, playing 18 minutes in a 1–2 home loss. Previously, on 28 September, he had scored an 86th-minute winner after just six minutes on the pitch in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League against Olympiacos (2–1 home win), adding a late equaliser against Osasuna and another in a 3–2 victory at Racing de Santander as Real finished second in the league, also netting in the 4–0 defeat of Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey. In 2005–06, with Castilla, Soldado scored 19 goals in Segunda División – two penalties – to become joint-second highest goalscorer alongside Ciudad de Murcia's José Juan Luque, one behind Ikechukwu Uche of Recreativo de Huelva. On 24 July 2006, he officially became the first member of Real Madrid to leave under new manager Fabio Capello and new president Ramón Calderón, moving to fellow La Liga side Osasuna on a season-long loan. He finished with a total of 13 goals in all competitions, making him the Navarrese's top scorer. Soldado returned to Real Madrid where, on 11 July 2007, he renewed his contract until 30 June 2012. However, he finished the season with just five league appearances (one start, at Deportivo de La Coruña), the second with fewer minutes for the league champions. In late July 2008, Soldado was sold to Getafe for €4 million, signing a four-year deal. He scored his first goal for them on 19 October in a 2–1 away loss against Málaga, adding two in another away defeat, with Osasuna (5–2), two months later. On 25 January 2009, Soldado scored a hat-trick as an early substitute, in a 5–1 home win over Sporting de Gijón. On 22 March, as Getafe struggled in the league, he scored twice to secure another home victory, 2–1 against Recreativo. The following month, he opened the 3–2 away defeat against his first employers. Soldado started 2009–10 in impressive fashion, putting three goals past Racing Santander in a 4–1 away win. After a long scoring drought, he added three more against newly promoted Xerez in a 5–1 home victory. On 19 December 2009, Soldado took his league tally to ten after scoring twice in a 2–1 defeat of Sevilla; with this achievement, he became Getafe's best ever scorer in the first d
In Their Own Story
The night of 13 December 2015 stands out vividly in Soldado's Villarreal journey. Standing at the Estadio El Madrigal, he faced a team he had once represented with distinction: Real Madrid. The pressure was immense, but Soldado rose to the occasion, netting the game's only goal to secure a precious victory for the Yellow Submarine. Just weeks earlier, on 14 August, he had made his mark by scoring in his debut match against Real Betis, though the joy was tempered as he retired injured midway through the second half. His resilience was tested again when an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee struck during pre-season, sidelining him for almost the entire 2016–17 season. These moments of triumph and tragedy weave together a story of a striker who arrived with high hopes, delivered instant results against rivals, but faced physical challenges that ultimately defined the remainder of his stint.
Reader's Guide
Roberto Soldado is a Spanish former striker known for his prolific scoring in La Liga, particularly with Valencia and Villarreal. He began at Real Madrid, had loan spells at Osasuna, and later played for Getafe, Valencia, Tottenham Hotspur, Villarreal, Fenerbahçe, Granada, and Levante. He represented Spain at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Did You Know?
- Soldado scored a hat-trick as a 61st-minute substitute for Fenerbahçe against Sivasspor in November 2017.
- He scored the first goal in Granada's European history in a 4–0 win at Teuta Durrës in September 2020.
- Soldado's £26 million transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 was a club record at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Roberto Soldado in Villarreal history?
Soldado was a striker who joined Villarreal in the summer of 2015 on a three-year deal worth around ten million pounds. He is remembered as a goal-scoring forward who made a memorable, if brief, impression on the club's attack.
What position did Roberto Soldado play at Villarreal?
He operated as a central striker, serving as the primary goal threat up front for the Yellow Submarine during his 2015–2017 spell.
How did Roberto Soldado's debut for Villarreal go?
On 14 August 2015 he scored in his very first match, a 1–1 draw away at Real Betis, though he had to leave the pitch injured before the final whistle. That immediate goal set the tone for a promising start.
Did Roberto Soldado ever score against Real Madrid in a Villarreal shirt?
Yes — on 13 December 2015 he found the net for the only goal of the game, giving Villarreal a 1–0 win over his former club at El Madrigal.
Why was Roberto Soldado's stint at Villarreal so short?
A torn anterior cruciate ligament kept him out for the bulk of the 2016–17 campaign, effectively cutting his productive period at the club in half. He eventually retired from professional football after his time with the Yellow Submarine.
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