Isco

Valencia

Isco was born in Benalmadena, Málaga, Andalusia. As a child he played for Atlético Benamiel. A product of Valencia's youth system, he spent the 2009–10 season with the club's reserve team in Segunda División B, netting once in 26 games and suffering relegation. While still registered with the reserves, Isco made his debut with the first team on 11 November 2010, against Logroñés in the 2010–11 Copa del Rey, scoring two goals in a 4–1 home win (Paco Alcácer made his senior debut in the same fixture). He played his first La Liga match three days later, featuring for 20 minutes in a 2–0 home win against Getafe after coming on as a substitute for Aritz Aduriz; he thereafter made three further league appearances and two in the UEFA Champions League, all from the bench, and helped the B-team return to the third level by scoring 15 goals in their campaign.

Málaga

In mid-July 2011, Isco moved back to his home province and signed a five-year contract with Málaga after the club activated his buy-out clause of €6 million. He scored his first goal for his new team on 21 November 2011, starting in a 3–1 away win against Racing de Santander; he netted again the following week in a 2–1 win against Villarreal, and finished his first season with 32 games and five goals as the side qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history. On 18 September 2012, in Málaga's first game in the Champions League group stage, Isco netted twice in a 3–0…

Isco appeared with Spain's U17 in 2009 World Cup, scoring three times in the process as the team finished third. In 2011, he represented his country – together with Málaga teammate Recio – in the U-20 World Cup held in Colombia, netting one goal in an eventual quarter-final exit. On 28 February 2012, Isco was called to the Spain under-23s team for a friendly against Egypt, but did not leave the bench. On 15 May he was picked for the first time to the senior team for friendlies with Serbia and South Korea, but took no part in either match. In July, he went with the under-23 team to the Olympics in London, starting all of Spain's matches as they were eliminated without scoring a goal. On 6 February 2013, Isco made his debut with the main squad, playing the last 30 minutes in a 3–1 win over Uruguay in Doha, Qatar. Also that year he appeared at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel, he scored in the final and finished the competition with the Bronze Boot (3 Goals) and made the team of the tournament as a key player for the eventual winners. Isco scored his first international goal for Spain in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belarus in Huelva on 15 November 2014, opening a 3–0 win. Isco scored his first hat-trick for Spain on 27 March 2018, netting three goals against Argentina in a 6–1 friendly win. In May 2018, Isco was named in Spain's final squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He scored his first and only goal in the last group stage match against…

Isco began his career as an attacking midfielder or as a second striker: at Málaga, under Manuel Pellegrini, he often played in an attacking role in the team's 4–2–3–1 formation. Following his move to Real Madrid, manager Carlo Ancelotti also played him in a deep-lying playmaker role requiring more sacrifice and defensive duties than his natural position. He has also been deployed as a winger on occasion. Isco is known for his ability to pick out good pass, dribble or shoot into the top corner of the goal. His reading of the game, his anticipation of space and the general directing of his side's performances are his most common traits. In 2013, Isco was credited by Marca journalist Pablo Polo as being "the most promising young player in Spanish football", comparing his strength, skill, and low centre of gravity to Sergio Agüero, and his vision and passing abilities to Zinedine Zidane. Former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas predicted in 2015 that Isco would become Spain's most important player.

Isco dated Victoria Calderon; the couple had a son. He has two more sons with actress Sara Sálamo.