Álex Baena
A dynamic Spanish winger whose dazzling dribbles and creative spark have made him a vital component of Villarreal's and now Spain's attacking ambitions.
Born 2001 (age 25)·Spanish footballer·Birthday: July 20·Generation Z
Biography
Álex Baena's rise is a story of technical brilliance meeting relentless work ethic. A product of the Villarreal youth academy, he honed his craft not on the immediate fringes of the first team, but through a vital loan at Girona where he learned to thrive in the physicality of senior football. Returning to Villarreal, he exploded under manager Unai Emery, becoming the inventive heartbeat of a team that consistently punched above its weight in La Liga and in Europe. His game is defined by a low center of gravity, audacious close control, and a keen eye for a decisive pass or a curling shot from the edge of the box. These performances forced a call-up to the Spanish national team, marking his arrival among the country's most exciting attacking talents, with his prime years still ahead.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Álex was born in 2001, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Álex Was Born
The biggest hits of 2001
#1 Movie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture
A Beautiful Mind
#1 TV Show
Survivor
Álex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2001Born
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2006Started school
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Became a teenager
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Could drive
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2019Could vote
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2022Turned 21
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 25 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA Europa League with Villarreal in 2021, coming off the bench in the final against Manchester United.
- Named the La Liga Player of the Month in April 2023 after a string of influential performances for Villarreal.
- Made his senior debut for the Spanish national team in 2023, earning multiple caps.
- Was a key player in Villarreal's run to the 2022 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Did You Know?
He is known for his distinctive celebration, where he mimics putting on a pair of glasses.
Despite his slight build, he is known for his tenacity and is often among La Liga's leaders in drawing fouls.
He scored his first professional goal while on loan at Girona in the Segunda División.
He has been a Villarreal CF player since he was 11 years old.
“In training, you prepare for the moment the game demands everything.”
