Here, we present to you our pick of the ten greatest-ever male players to ever represent Club Atlético de Madrid.
Atlético Madrid are one of the powerhouses of European football. Despite the duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid domestically, the Colchoneros have been one of main instigators in trying to break it down.
Atleti have to their name 11 LaLiga titles and 10 Copas del Rey (King’s Cups) along with two UEFA Europa League titles and a European Cup Winner’s Cup. One of the reasons they have achieved so much in the past 100 years is because of their players.
For this list, we’ve taken a very specific set of criteria into account:
- Impact
- Longevity
- Statistics
- Trophies
#10 Carlos Aguilera
Juan Carlos Aguilera Martín is fourth on the list of all-time appearance makers for Atlético Madrid. Born in Madrid, Aguilera made his debut in 1988 for the club and helped them win back-to-back Copa del Rey titles. He used to play as a right-wingback, and his attacking prowess meant he chipped in with vital goals from time to time.
The former Spain international left the club in 1993 and returned after three years to play until the end of his career with Atleti. Alongside Fernando Torres, he helped the club to win the Segunda División and get a place back among the big boys in the Spanish topflight. In his 454 appearances for the club, he found the net 29 times and remains one of the club’s best-ever right-backs.
#9 Antoine Griezmann
A quick, modern, and versatile left-footed forward with an eye for goal, Antoine Griezmann has been one of the best players in world football for over a decade. He is capable of occupying several offensive positions in or behind the main attacking line due to his technical skills, vision, and ability to drop deep and link-up play between the forward and midfielders.
Despite having had a lucrative move away to Barça, the veteran Frenchman is back in the Spanish capital and has picked up where he left off. In less than 400 appearances for the club, he has registered 184 goals across all competitions and is the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Since joining the club, Griezmann has helped Atleti win three major trophies: the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Supercopa de España.
#8 Fernando Torres
Another Atlético Madrid youth academy product, Fernando Torres, or “El Niño” as referred to by the locals, goes down in history as one of the most influential and best strikers ever produced by the club.
Given the tag of a local hero, Torres helped the club to get back to LaLiga in 2002 by winning the Segunda División. During his first spell with the club, he scored 83 goals before moving to the Premier League with Liverpool, where he finally delivered on his potential.
However, after a torrid spell at Chelsea, Torres returned to the Metropolitano in 2015 to add a few more goals to his name, bringing the tally to 121. He played a crucial role in the club winning their second UEFA Europa League title in 2018 before leaving the club for good that same year to finish his career in the Japanese first division.
#7 Adrián Escudero
Another one-club man, in the career span of 13 years, Adrián Escudero played for only one club. After starting his youth career with Banco Hispano Americano, Escudero joined Atleti in 1945 and went on to become one of the most deadly strikers in European football at the time.
Escudero helped the club win two LaLiga titles in the early 1950s as well as a Copa Eva Duarte title in ’51.
#6 Juanfran
This former Spain international is considered one of the best right-backs of his time. Following his arrival from Osasuna on a small transfer fee of just over €4 million, the defender soon became a regular starter for Atleti and played a major role in them winning the domestic league in 2014.
A former winger during his Real Madrid and Osasuna days, Juanfran usually played as a right-back for Diego Someone’s team. While an accomplished defender, his biggest threat was his ability to get forward and provide accurate crosses for his teammates inside the box.
In the total span of eight years in the club, he made 355 appearances for Atlético, winning the 2014 LaLiga title and two UEFA Europa League titles as notable silverware among others. He left the club in 2019 to play for São Paulo out in Brazil, where he finished his career.
Also read: Top 10 greatest players of all time: SSC Napoli
#5 Adelardo Rodríguez
Born in Badajoz, Spain, Rodríguez made his debut for Atlético Madrid in 1959. He was a proper attacking midfielder with the ability to find the back of the net in crucial moments, which he did a total of 113 times for the club in the 17 years he played for them.
As one of the linchpins as well as one the longest-serving players at the club, Rodríguez helped Atleti win three LaLiga titles, five Copas del Rey, an Intercontinental Cup, and a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Rodríguez is second in the list of the highest appearance-makers for the club with 553 games in total, behind only Koke.
#4 Koke
Jorge Resurrección Merodio, famously known as Koke, is one of those players who was born in Madrid and has been playing in Madrid. Developed at the Atleti youth academy, Koke has been ever loyal to the club, having made 645 appearances for them in total and still counting.
The Spain international is a versatile player who can play across various positions in the midfield. With his flexible style of play, Koke has helped the team challenge the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in recent years, winning along the way two LaLiga titles, one Copa del Rey, one Supercopa de España, two UEFA Europa League titles, and two UEFA Super Cups.
#3 Gabi
Gabriel Luis Fernández Arenas, notably known as Gabi, was the heartbeat of the Atleti midfield in his day. While it was the forwards that usually marked the headlines with their goals, it was the likes of Gabi that created the chances for them.
Known for his tackling ability as well as his combativeness and hard work, Gabi could both break down opposition attacks and dictate play with the ball with equal effectiveness. He was also known to be proficient in possession, capable of delivering through balls and distributing the ball at both long and short lengths.
Gabi made a remarkable 413 appearances for the club and registered his name as one of the greatest in Atleti history, helping them win one LaLiga title, one Copa del Rey, one Supercopa de España, two UEFA Europa Leagues, and two UEFA Super Cups.
#2 Luis Aragonés
The former Spain men’s national team head coach was a successful central midfielder and free-kick specialist back in his playing days. During his decade-long stay with Atleti, Aragonés became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 172 goals, which was only bettered by Antoine Griezmann in 2024.
As a player, Aragonés won three LaLiga titles and two Copas del Rey, while also finishing runner-up to Bayern Munich in the 1974 European Cup final.
Soon after his retirement, Aragonés was given the managerial seat at Atlético Madrid, which he held for 15 years across four different spells and delivered to the club one LaLiga title, three Copas del Rey, one Supercopa de España, one Segunda División title, and one Intercontinental Cup.
#1 Diego Godín
An intelligent centre-back, Diego Godín was primarily known for his leadership, positioning, and calm composure, which allowed him to organise his backline, read the game, and anticipate plays. Despite his relative lack of pace and athleticism, Godín is still regarded by pundits as one of the best and most consistent defenders of his time.
The Uruguayan was the bedrock of a resolute Atleti defence under Diego Simeone. He played a major role in achieving huge success for the club during his eight-year stint, playing not only his part in the line of defence but also netting the ball in the opposition net 17 times.
Godín was always the first choice on the team sheet under Simeone when available. Under his leadership, the team won one LaLiga title, one Copas del Rey, one Supercopa de España, two UEFA Europa League titles, and three UEFA Super Cups.
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