Arguably the most prestigious football club in the world, we’ve nailed a list of the best Real Madrid players of all time. Hala Madrid!
These players all left their mark at the Santiago Bernabéu leaving a lasting legacy at a club that’s full of history and the most successful of all time. Here’s the top ten:
10. Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane left Juventus for Real Madrid in 2001 and in only five seasons became one of the best players in the club’s history with his mythical level of playmaking and ball control.
Zidane’s career is summed up by his iconic winning volley in the 2002 Champions League Final. He also went on to win La Liga as a player, and won both competitions as Real Madrid manager to immortalise himself into a club icon.
9. Iker Casillas
One of the greatest keepers to ever play the game, Iker Casillas rose through the youth ranks of Real Madrid before becoming the youngest ever goalkeeper to play and win the Champions League in 2000 at 19 years and four days.
Casillas was an exceptional leader at the club and he won 19 titles in his 25 years at the club. In his prime he was the world’s best keeper and won five La Liga titles and Champions League three times.
8. Luka Modric
In 2012 Luka Modric left Tottenham and became one of the best Real Madrid players ever for so many reasons. A complete footballer, he always plays the game with intelligence, technique, and stepped up for Real Madrid when it mattered.
On the back of winning the Champions League and guiding Croatian to the World Cup Final, Modric achieved football’s ultimate individual achievement when awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2018, the first player since Kaka* to win the award since 2007 and ending Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi’s 10-year dominance.
7. Raul
After 16 years and 741 games in all competitions for Real Madrid, Raul retired as the clubs highest ever goalscorer in all competitions with 323 goals. That was until Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed him in 2015.
Raul lacked pace and his dribbling was what you’d expect from a giraffe, but he more than made up for it with his positioning. Six La Liga titles and three Champions League titles has him at seven on our list of best Real Madrid players.
6. Karim Bezema
After joining from Lyon in 2009, Karim Benzema enjoyed a fruitful 14 seasons at Real Madrid before joining Saudi club Al-Ittihad in 2023. During that time he won La Liga four times, and the Champions League five times.
When Bezema left he did so as Real Madrid’s second highest goalscorer of all time, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo. His stellar 2021-22 season earned him a Ballon d’Or and in the process became the second oldest winner of the award in history at 34 years and 302 days old.
5. Francisco “Paco” Gento
Francisco “Paco” Gento is one of the greatest Real Madrid players and among the greatest Spanish footballers ever. He played in eight European Cup finals, winning six of those to go along with his haul of 12 La Liga titles.
A lightning quick winger who dominated the 1950s and 60s , Paco had immense skill and pace. He managed to score 182 goals across 18 seasons and 600 official matches.
4. Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos joined Real Madrid from Sevilla in 2005 and after 16 seasons became one of the greatest defenders in football history. His haul includes four Champions League titles and five La Liga championships.
Ramos wasn’t just a beast defensively. He was also a major threat in attack playing with aggression and excellent positioning scoring 72 goals in 469 league appearances.
3. Ferenc Puskas
Arriving from Budapest Honved after refusing to return back to communist Hungary, Ferenc Puskas arrived at Real Madrid in 1958 and became a key figure during the golden era of the 1950s and 60s.
In his eight seasons with Real, Ferenc Puskas played 180 La Liga games and scored 156 goals. So exquisite was Puskas’ technique, the “most beautiful” goal of the year in football has been named in honour of him.
2. Alfredo Di Stefano
During Real Madrid’s golden era of the 1950s and 60s, Alfredo Di Stefano showed us all why his second on our list of best Real Madrid players ever, and he formed arguably the most formidable partnership alongside Puskas in history.
In 11 years at Real Madrid Di Stefano won eight Spanish league titles and five consecutive European Cups. He would end up scoring 308 goals in 396 official matches, a record he held until surpassed by Raul.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is not only the best Real Madrid player ever, he’s considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time. In nine seasons at Real Madrid he set numerous records that are unlikely to ever be beaten.
After joining the club from Manchester United in 2009 for what ultimately became a bargain £80 million, Ronaldo won the Champions League four times in addition to two La Liga titles. The Portuguese scored at an unbelievable rate with 450 goals in 438 appearances for Real Madrid, with 311 of those goals scored in 292 La Liga games.