Real Madrid: Ranking the Five Greatest Forwards of the 2010s

2. Karim Benzema

Real Madrid center forward Karim Benzema might be one of the most underrated footballers in the world. Often underappreciated by the Madridistas, his contribution has not gone unnoticed among his teammates and coaches alike. The Royal White’s manager Zinedine Zidane believes his compatriot to be the best number nine in the world.

Benzema was so often the player that made the BBC trio tick. His importance for the team goes beyond goals; he facilitates the attack and augments opportunities for his teammates.

However, that does not mean that his numbers are any less – he is Real Madrid’s sixth-highest goal scorer with 241 goals, 232 of them in the 2010s. He also has 113 assists to his name in the same period. The Merengues No .9 is also one of only two players from the last decade to make it in our ’10 Greatest Forwards in Club History’ list.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Who other than Cristiano Ronaldo? There has been no other player of this caliber seen by Madridistas since Alfredo di Stefano. The Portuguese captain is unquestionably one of the greatest to have played for Los Blancos.

The 2010s was a decade of shattering records for Ronaldo. The former Real Madrid Talisman led the team to four Champions League winner medals, including the ‘three-peat’. He was the leading goal scorer in each of those trophy-winning campaigns.

In La Liga, he scored 46 goals in the 2011/12 season to help Los Blancos win the title for the first time in four years; his goals also contributed to a record 120 goal season for the Royal Whites. Ronaldo also scored the most La Liga hattricks in a single season with eight in the 2014/15 season, the record he holds jointly with Lionel Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo won 16 trophies during his time with Real Madrid. Along the way, he became the highest goal-scorer in club history with 450 goals.