Asensio vs Richarlison: From Olympic rivals to teammates at Real Madrid?

Richarlison to Real Madrid with Ancelotti and Marco Asensio?

The Brazilian's performances at Tokyo 2020 have sent smoke flying out of the rumour mill drive shaft, but both are fully focussed on Olympic gold.

The two superstars have lit up Tokyo 2020 and are hoping to win an Olympic gold medal while Real Madrid fans dream of seeing them both in blanco next season.

Asensio's semi-final stunner against Japan have La Roja one step from gold while Tokyo top-scorer Richarlison has the Canarinho a win from defending their Rio 2016 title. The one Neymar helped them win five years ago.

"It's a historic opportunity," Asensio told sefutbol as Spain have a chance to claim their first gold medal since Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, and los chicos de oro claimed gold at Barcelona 1992.

Richarlison had to fight to make it to the Olympics, arguing for an entire day with Everton and new manager Rafa Benitez, then he released some tension by exploding onto the Olympic stage with a 30-minute hat-trick against Germany.

He added two more against Saudi Arabia to take his tally to five, the 24-year-old is just two goals from Romario's Olympic record and has been key in their run to the final.

Neymar convinced Richarlison to wear the No.10 in Tokyo and is watching every match, "desperate" for Brazil to defend their Olympic title, now he's out to follow Neymar to the top of the podium with the insatiable Dani Alves by his side.

"We got here by fighting, and we go to the last battle in the same way. Go Brazil!!!!" Posted Richarlisson after their semi-final win over Mexico on penalties.

So which of these global stars will wear gold on Saturday?

Marco Asensio: Back to his best

There was a time when they talked about Marco Asensio the way they now talk about Pedri.

He was the next big thing, the one to challenge the BBC (Bale-Benzema-Cristiano Ronaldo) at Real Madrid and lead Spain's next-gen golden gen.

But his second album didn't convince and then he suffered an ACL injury - the one they used to call the 'Career Killer.'

Asensio missed almost two years of football because of that knee injury and has reignited his career at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

His cross for Mikel Oyarzabal to break the deadlock against Australia in Game 2 was essential, his goal to win the semi-final against Japan, sublime.

It was classic Asensio, playing as an inverted winger to the right of a front three he cut back onto that lethal left foot inside the box and sent it arcing unstoppably into the corner.

"That feeling..." He posted on social media, one he wants to feel many more times this season.

Before the Olympics they asked Asensio if he was going to stay at Real Madrid with Ancelotti, or if he would he go out on loan to play more, now they're talking about his revival and a return to the first team.

A golden moment in the Olympic final would put Asensio back in the headlines again, for all the right reasons.

Real Madrid's transfer telenovela

The Casa Blanca transfer telenovela is always at full volume at this time of year, but Asensio has his headphones on, blocking out the noise having already confirmed his club intentions before the Games kicked off.

"I'm staying. Definitely." He said. "I'll be up to the expectations that Ancelotti has for me. My intention is to stay at Real Madrid, be great here and give it my all. I feel like I have lot more to give at this club."

With talk of Asensio going out, rumours swirled that Richarlison was coming in to the Bernabeu with Carlo Ancelotti, his coach at Everton last season.

Richarlison's performances with Brazil in Tokyo have only fanned the flames of a possible move, but financial issues at Real Madrid may make it impossible.

Neymar convinces Richarlison to wear No.10

It was hardly a surprise that they talked about him going to one of the biggest clubs in the world after that half-hour hat-trick against Germany in Game 1.

It was all eyes on Richarlison and he's been living up to the hype, scoring two more against Saudi Arabia and contributing with his all-round performance.

Now with five goals in the bank, Richarlison is just two from another Brazilian legend's Olympic record: Romario scored seven goals at Seoul '88, no-one's ever scored more at a single games.

The 24-year-old has proved he's hot property and deserved of that No.10 jersey worn by other Olympic medallists Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar.

In fact, it was Neymar who convinced the Everton man to ask for it: "To be honest, I was going to ask for the No7," he told FIFA.com.

"I’m the No7 for Everton and the No7 for the senior Seleção. But when I got the call from Jardine, I was playing video games with Neymar in the room. When I put the phone down he immediately said, ‘Now I want to see if you’ve got it in you to carry the burden of being the No10’.

"We all know the No10 shirt carries extra responsibility – whoever wears it is obliged to be a match-winner. Neymar’s my idol, our idol – I had to obey him. So I asked Jardine for the No10 and he granted me it. Neymar was delighted. Also, Neymar didn’t make this request for nothing.

"He knows me well, he knows I’ve been playing in Europe for a while, he knows I can carry the responsibility on my shoulders. I think I made the right choice. It’s a huge honour to wear the No10 shirt worn by Neymar, Pele, Ronaldinho, Zico and other legends."

He's carried the weight of the No.10 shirt in style, and heads into the final as the competition top-scorer, one win from emulating his friend and hero from Rio 2016.

Richarlisson: "Neymar desperately wants Brazil to win gold in Tokyo"

Richarlison is in constant contact with Neymar.

"He’s always sending good-luck messages," he says, "always messaging me after the games. He always talks about the euphoria of winning Olympic gold in Rio, and he desperately wants Brazil to win Olympic gold in Tokyo.

"Neymar really likes me, I’m one of his best friends in the Seleção. He’s watching all our games and I hope we’re making him proud."

Shattered after a Copa America final loss against Messi's Argentina, Neymar was in tears, now Richarlison, Alves, Cunha, and Brazil can put the smile back on his face in the Olympic final.

Now Brazil's No.10 has a special celebration planned if Brazil do end up on the top of the podium in Tokyo: A tattoo.

"I never imagined myself getting a tattoo, but if Brazil win Olympic gold I am definitely getting one. I would simply have to commemorate the moment. It would mean so much to go down in history."

Rivals on Saturday, only one of Asensio and Richarlison can win that gold medal, afterwards we'll see if they'll play together at Real Madrid or not.