Former Real Madrid football club president Florentino Perez gestures during a press conference in Madrid on May 14, 2009, to announced his plans to return to the post in elections next month. Perez led Real from 2000 to 2006, when it earned the nickname ‘Los Galacticos’, winning the Primera Liga twice and European Champions League with such stars as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and David Beckham. AFP PHOTO/PHILIPPE DESMAZES (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid are arguably the greatest soccer club on earth. With 32 LaLiga titles, eleven European Cups, the latest of which came in May and having wrapped up another Club World Cup title, few clubs can match their success. Unsurprisingly, Los Blancos were named the best club of the twentieth century a few years ago.
Real Madrid have become a home to some of the finest talent to ever play the game. Such is their power within the game, both financially and emotionally, they often get to pick and choose from the best.
As proof of this, in 2000, current club president Florentino Perez, then in his first spell in charge, signed Portuguese winger Luis Figo from arch-rivals Barcelona. It was a transfer that shocked the world but, more importantly, demonstrated just how far Real could go in pursuit of glory.
It also kickstarted the ‘Galacticos’ era, which centred around signing a superstar each summer. The likes of Zinedine Zidane, Brazilian Ronaldo and David Beckham followed. When Perez returned in 2009, he attempted a repeat, finalising a deal for Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and signing AC Milan’s Kaka, Karim Benzema of Lyon and Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso in his first summer back.
Perez’s two tenures are just the tip of the iceberg for the Spanish giants. We’ve put a list of the five greatest ever Real Madrid players, in no particular order. Here goes…
Leon edges scrappy FC Juarez to secure spot in playoffs
</a>
</li><li>
<a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/megan-rapinoe-career-defined-more-farewell-match-injury/">
Megan Rapinoe’s career defined by more than farewell match injury
</a>
</li><li>
<a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/barcelona-manage-comeback-alaves/">
Lewandowski scores twice as Barcelona come back to beat Alaves 2-1
</a>
</li><li>
<a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/liga-mx-leon-puebla-finales/">
León chasing play-in spot; Puebla aims for higher seeding
</a>
</li><li>
<a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/tigres-goalie-america/">
Carlos Rodríguez emerges with clean sheet vs league leaders
</a>
</li></ul>
</div>
<p>On the pitch, Di Stefano played a huge part in bringing the success to make Real the best club in the 1900s. The European Cup’s inception was in 1956, and Real won the first five, dominating the continent and the world for five years.</p>
<p>All in all, Di Stefano became the top scorer in the club’s history with 308 in 396 appearances, a record which stood until 2009. He was an honorary board member in his later years, helping present new stars when they signed for the club before he died in 2014 aged 88.</p>
<p>Perhaps that was a subconscious move to help the new players to understand the pressures of representing the club and his achievements. in some cases, one in particular, it worked, but more on that later.</p>
<p>Di Stefano is someone those of a certain generation maintain is one of the greatest soccer players of all time. In reality, it is hard to disagree, but he has been forgotten somewhat with the level in the modern-day. He’ll never ever be forgotten by the Madridistas, though.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Ferenc Puskas </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_428272" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-428272" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F12%2F79667440-14th-may-1965-ferenc-puskas-of-real-madrid-pictured-throwing-flowers-to-fans-prior-to-the-aek-athens-v-real-madrid-game-in-athens-the-match-finished-in-a-3-3-draw-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">14th, May, 1965, Ferenc Puskas of Real Madrid, pictured throwing flowers to fans prior to the AEK Athens v Real Madrid game in Athens, The match finished in a 3-3 draw (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<p><strong>2. Ferenc Puskas<br>
</strong></p>
<p>As a member of the same Real Madrid team in the 1950s, Hungarian legend Puskas is one of the greatest strikers in the history of the game. He arrived in 1958 after a three-year hiatus having left Budapest Honved in 1955.</p>
<p>From then, he never looked back before retiring in 1966. Puskas netted 242 goals in 262 games, with only four players scoring more. Before he died in 2006, aged 79, he had a FIFA award named after him, for the best goal of the calendar year. Rather fitting, eh?</p>
<p>On the international scene is where Puskas truly excelled, scoring 84 goals in just 83 appearances. For English fans, his role in the ‘Match of the Century’, a 6-3 victory for Hungary over England at Wembley in 1953. A year later, in the return fixture in Budapest, Puskas scored twice as Hungary romped to a 7-1 victory.</p>
<p>As already mentioned, Real have been able to acquire some of the best players of recent years. That said, never have they matched the historic success of that team with Puskas and Di Stefano, and these two will take some topping in the pantheon of Los Blancos greats.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Zinedine Zidane </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_428273" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-428273" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F12%2F52724008-fussball-abschiedsspiel-fuer-juan-antonio-samaranch-2001-real-madrid-lausanne-21-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – JULY 27: ABSCHIEDSSPIEL fuer Juan Antonio SAMARANCH 2001, Lausanne; REAL MADRID – LAUSANNE 2:1; Zinedine ZIDANE/MADRID (Photo by Michael Kienzler/Bongarts/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<p><strong>3. Zinedine Zidane</strong></p>
<p>Although the Galacticos project yielded little substance to match its style, the signing of Zinedine Zidane will forever go down in the club’s history. Three years after leading France to a World Cup victory on home soil and having excelled in Italy with Juventus, the 29-year-old midfielder made the then world-record $54million move to the Santiago Bernabeu.</p>
<p>It took a long time for ‘Zizou’ to settle in Madrid, and he was even booed by the club’s most demanding fans. All was forgotten at the end of his first season when he scored arguably the best ever Champions League goal to help down Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park in 2002.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/C7mXGMcpA0g?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Having won eleven titles, the European Cup has a special place in Real Madrid hearts. That goal was the last great memory in the competition until they clinched La Decima, the tenth title, in 2014.</p>
<p>Now coach, Zidane is endearing himself to the club all over again and on a whole new level. Winning the Champions League again last season, from the dugout, showed that even though his managerial career is only just beginning, he could hit similar heights to the ones he did as a player.</p>
<p>This season, clinching another league title, their first in four years, is the primary focus. Los Blancos have been in excellent form since the summer and led the way domestically by six points before travelling to Japan for their successful Club World Cup campaign this month.</p>
<p>LaLiga success would certainly please the board, but it is his playing career which affords Zidane his legendary status. Trophies weren’t as regular as he would have liked, but the grace he brought to soccer over his five years in Spain wins him a spot on this list.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Raul </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_428274" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-428274" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F12%2F52924646-raulreal-madrid-bayer-04-leverkusen-53-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 17: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 00/01, Madrid; REAL MADRID – BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN 5:3; TOR durch RAUL/MADRID (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<p><strong>4. Raul</strong></p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
<div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_428259" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;">
<script>
googletag.cmd.push(function () {
googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/Playingfor90/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet")
.addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.enableServices();
googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet");
});
</script>
</div>
</div> </div> </div>
<p>If Di Stefano was the king of yesteryear at Real Madrid, Raul Gonzalez Blanco became his modern-day incumbent and the man who overtook him in the goalscoring charts, ending his time at the club on 323 goals.</p>
<p>When the legendary Spain striker reached that milestone seven years ago, it was likely he would never be beaten. The most remarkable thing about Raul’s career is he achieved so much while not possessing the ability of some of his teammates at the Santiago Bernabeu, he relied more upon his desire and hard work.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/MRarGwIkgDM?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>Despite growing up as an Atletico Madrid fan and starting his footballing life in their youth system before it was disbanded, Raul became vital at Real Madrid on and off the pitch.</p>
<p>In a confusing time for the club under Florentino Perez, when the club’s identity was less than clear, Raul was something of a surrogate captain and board member, championing respect in victory and hard work. At that time, there was a disturbing air of arrogance sweeping the club and Raul stopped that straying too far.</p>
<p>In parallel to Di Stefano, Raul was an example to teammates and future players in how to behave and perform at Real Madrid. Ironically, on the international stage it didn’t work out despite becoming Spain’s all time top goalscorer, with their most successful era playing out after their legend had retired.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no doubting his place on this list.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Cristiano Ronaldo </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_428275" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-428275" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F12%2F630250592-real-madrid-v-kashima-antlers-fifa-club-world-cup-final-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – DECEMBER 18: (CHINA OUT, SOUTH KOREA OUT) Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid controls the ball under pressure of Mitsuo Ogasawara of Kashima Antlers during the FIFA Club World Cup final match between Real Madrid and Kashima Antlers at International Stadium Yokohama on December 18, 2016 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<p><strong>5. Cristiano Ronaldo</strong></p>
<p>Last, but certainly not least, Ronaldo is the man who did eventually beat Raul’s goalscoring record and he is still setting his total now, currently sitting on 380 from just 367 games.</p>
<p>The 31-year-old is arguably the only signing Real Madrid have ever made who lived up to Di Stefano’s legacy. He joined from Manchester United in 2009 for $95million and in each of the seven seasons since, he has scored over 50 goals in six of them. His debut campaign, in which he suffered big injury issues, yielded an impressive 33 goals.</p>
<p>As has already been established, performances on the pitch will never be enough to be revered at the Santiago Bernabeu. Players need to take responsibility in the big games and become a leader for the players whether they are wearing the captain’s armband or not. Ronaldo does that excellently.</p>
<div class="related-category right">
<div class="related-main-title">More from <span class="related-name">Real Madrid</span></div>
<ul>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/08/real-madrid-braga-ucl/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Real Madrid 3-0 Braga : Los Blancos progress to Round of 16</a>
</li>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/08/13/real-madrid-eder-militao-injury-blow/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Real Madrid dealt Eder Militao injury blow</a>
</li>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/08/12/jude-bellingham-scores-real-madrid-debut/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Jude Bellingham scores in Real Madrid debut</a>
</li>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/08/11/real-madrid-season-preview/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Real Madrid facing uncertainty heading into new LaLiga season</a>
</li>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/22/the-5-greatest-players-in-real-madrid-history/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/08/10/real-madrid-thibaut-courtois-injury-blow/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Real Madrid suffer Thibaut Courtois injury blow</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Having just signed a new bumper five-year contract, despite his advanced years, there is no sign of Ronaldo slowing down in the white shirt of Madrid. There is also the small matter of the Portuguese star clinching his fourth Ballon d’Or and beating his eternal rival Lionel Messi this month, too.</p>
<p>In reality, the argument as to who is the best of the best for Los Blancos is three-fold. Choosing between Ronaldo, Raul and Di Stefano is tough and depends on your generation, but they have all played their part and created a legacy in their respective eras.</p>
<p>Cristiano Ronaldo has done it all, but the scary thought is there is still more time for him to rewrite history.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">