Top 10 greatest players of all time: Real Madrid CF

In this article, we present to you our pick of the ten greatest-ever male players to ever represent Real Madrid CF.

The record European champions and LaLiga winners are, without a doubt, the greatest football club in the world. Their continued success, which dates back to over a century, has attracted some of the best players to ever grace a football pitch to don the fabled white jersey. 

From the fearless dynamos of the early 1960s, the Galácticos of the 2000s, to the modern-day greats, here we take a look at some of the finest players to ever play for Los Blancos. 

#10 Iker Casillas

Iker Casillas is arguably one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Having risen through the ranks at Real Madrid, he went on to guard the goal at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for 16 years, turning out in 725 matches—the second most in club history.

Casillas is still the youngest goalkeeper to appear in a UEFA Champions League final and holds the record for the most clean sheets in the competition’s history. It’s a real shame things turned slightly sour towards the end of his Real Madrid career, but that does not alter the fact that he’s an all-time great.

#9 Raúl González

The man who built the legacy of the iconic No. 7 jersey at Real Madrid, Raúl spent 16 trophy-laden years in the Spanish capital. Regarded as one of the all-time greats, no player has made more appearances for the club than his 741.

Raúl is also Real Madrid’s third-highest goalscorer—with 323—and won six LaLiga and three UCL titles over the course of his wonderful career at the Bernabéu.  

#8 Sergio Ramos

Probably the finest-ever Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos was known for his ruthless partnership at the back with Pepe, his excellent defensive ability, and a knack for getting sent off. He scored important goals, battled with the world’s best forwards, and got in his opponents’ heads whenever his team needed it.

Ramos’ performances defined an era of pure Real Madrid domination in the 2010s, with only three players accumulating more appearances for the Spanish titans than him. That he’s still playing at a high level at the age of 38 is a testament to just how incredible he has been throughout his career. 

It’s just a shame his time in Madrid didn’t end on the most positive of notes.

#7 Luka Modric

Forever doubted throughout his career, few midfielders have been more significant in Real Madrid’s history than the great Luka Modric, who guided the club to astounding glory. 

A diminutive midfielder who uses ball-carrying as much as passing to evade pressure, Modric has not just been a creative spark behind six Champions League titles for Los Blancos, but also a vital figure when the chips have been down.

One of the greatest to ever feature in the Real Madrid engine room, Modric deservedly won the Ballon d’Or in 2018—the first player not named Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to do so since 2008.

#6 Ferenc Puskás

One of the greatest strikers the sport has ever seen, Ferenc Puskás netted 242 goals in 262 games wearing the Real Madrid shirt—an average of 0.92 per appearance. The fleet-footed Hungarian also won three European Cups, notably scoring four goals in the 7-3 final victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960, which is the only time this feat has ever been achieved.

Puskás even has an award named after him; the FIFA Puskas Award is given to the player deemed to have scored the most aesthetically pleasing goal in a year. If that doesn’t give you an indication of how special a player he was, nothing will.

Also read: AFC Ajax’s top 10 greatest players of all time

#5 Zinedine Zidane

A world-class player for Real Madrid and an equally brilliant manager, Zinedine Zidane spent five incredible years at the Santiago Bernabéu and is most notably remembered for scoring an incredible volley to win Los Blancos the 2001 Champions League final.

As a manager, Zidane guided the team to a famous “three-peat” in the UCL between 2016 and 2018.

As a player, Zidane was a ferocious engine in the middle of the park and regularly bossed opposition midfielders, who hardly stood a chance. He might have spent only five years playing at the Bernabéu, but his time as Real Madrid manager only added to his already incredible legacy at the club. The word “legend” doesn’t really do him justice.

#4 Paco Gento

Here’s a player whom many consider the greatest left-winger in the game’s history. Known for his pace and quick feet, Paco Gento joined Real Madrid in 1953. He went on to stay 18 years in the Spanish capital, accumulating a frightening amount of silverware in less than two decades.

Gento appeared in eight European Cup finals—of which he won six—and won LaLiga 12 times, forging a legacy of being one of Spain’s all-time greats and one of the most dynamic left-wingers ever seen.

#3 Santiago Bernabéu

The Madridistas loved him so much, the club named their stadium after him.

Santiago Bernabéu was one of the club’s earliest legends. He was a brilliant player in the 1920s and then served as the club’s president for 35 years between 1943 and 1978, overseeing a ridiculous amount of success. There’s little doubt as to why he is considered the most important figure in Real Madrid’s illustrious history.

Under his watch in the boardroom, Real Madrid were crowned domestic champions on 16 separate occasions. One could say the club wouldn’t have grown into the behemoth they’re regarded as today if it weren’t for Bernabéu’s impact.

#2 Alfredo Di Stéfano

One of Puskás’ partners in crime, the great Alfredo Di Stéfano was a sensation. Not only did he win the European Cup five years in a row, but he also scored in all five finals—including a hat-trick in 1960. Legacies don’t come much bigger than that of the “Golden Arrow”. 

Two Ballons d’Or, 308 goals in 396 games, eight LaLiga titles, five Pichichis, and five European Cups—that’s what Di Stéfano achieved in his 11-year stint with Real Madrid. He spent over a decade at the club, and the impact he had in that time cannot be overstated.

Thanks to Di Stéfano and his legacy at Real Madrid, star footballers continue flocking to the Spanish today the same way they did back in the 1950s. 

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Whether Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest of all time is a question for another day, but he is certainly the best player to have ever played for Real Madrid.

The Portuguese sensation is Los Blancos‘ all-time record scorer with 450 goals—a feat he somehow achieved it in just 438 games. Ronaldo also won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid and scored 30+ goals across all competitions in every single season he was at the club.

Ronaldo also went on to win four Ballons d’Or to go with his four UCL medals during his time at the Bernabeu. He may have cost Real Madrid a world-record transfer fee when he joined from Manchester United in 2009, but after nine incredible years that saw him break all sorts of records, it’s fair to say that his move turned out to be a bargain.