With the usual European football seasons concluded, fans are eagerly seeking other sports events to satisfy their cravings until the Club World Cup begins on June 14.

Those who watched the final of the French Open surely found what they were looking for and more, witnessing one of the most thrilling tennis matches in history.

In a gripping five-set battle lasting five and a half hours, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz made an impressive comeback from two sets behind, saving several championship points in the process, to overcome Jannik Sinner and secure his second consecutive Roland Garros championship and the fifth Grand Slam title of his promising career.

As the dust settled, congratulations flooded in for the 22-year-old phenom, including from some of world football’s biggest names and clubs, many of whom were clearly watching.

Real Madrid, the club Alcaraz supports, led the tributes, posting: “All madridistas are happy and proud of this brilliant success achieved by one of our own.”

Former Real midfielder Toni Kroos reshared a 2022 photo of himself with Alcaraz – originally captioned “The future. And me.” – this time adding a short, smug follow-up: “Told you.”

Current Real No. 1 Thibaut Courtois posted a photo of Alcaraz to his Instagram Stories, writing: “Brutal.” Vinícius Jr. also shared a shot of the Spaniard lifting the trophy, with the one-word caption: “Locura”—meaning “Madness” in Spanish.

Elsewhere, Brazilian star Neymar Jr. – whom Alcaraz has previously cited as one of his all-time favourite players – also offered his congratulations, as did Tottenham and England striker Dominic Solanke.

Curiously, one high-profile absence from the congratulatory chorus was the Spanish national football team.

Despite being seen pre-match huddled around a phone watching Alcaraz’s final, the squad ended their night on a sour note – losing to Portugal on penalties in the UEFA Nations League final – and the team and its players made no public tribute to their compatriot.

While the lack of congratulations from his Spanish countrymen might have raised a few eyebrows, it’s unlikely to bother Alcaraz – given the near-universal adulation he received from the rest of the sporting world.