Before the 2025/26 season even kicked off, António Salvador threw down a challenge. He tasked Rodrigo Zalazar with a specific goal: hit 12 goals by the season’s end. It was a bold target, a clear sign of the faith placed in the Uruguayan midfielder. Yet, here we are, and the season hasn’t even reached its midpoint. Zalazar is already halfway there, needing just 14 games to reach his six-goal mark. He is making that challenge look like child’s play.
His sixth goal was perhaps the most memorable so far. It came at Alvalade, the home ground of Sporting. The pressure was immense, the stakes incredibly high. Deep into stoppage time, with his team trailing, Zalazar stepped up to take a penalty kick. This was the moment to potentially level the score and snatch a crucial point. He showed nerves of steel, expertly converting the spot-kick. That clutch moment proved why he stands as one of the club’s most dependable players. He simply refused to falter.
This dramatic equalizer did more than just secure a draw. It further cemented the Uruguayan’s growing influence on game outcomes. His presence in the attack has become undeniably significant. Zalazar has now had a hand in seven goals this season. Six of those were his own powerful strikes. The seventh came from a perfectly weighted assist, setting up a teammate. He is not just a scorer; he’s a vital part of the team’s offensive engine.