Real Madrid have five players in WhoScored’s La Liga Team of the Year

Nearly half of WhoScored.com’s La Liga Team of the Year starting XI were made up of Real Madrid players. That’s what happens when you’re the best, right?

Real Madrid enter 2021 as the second-placed team in La Liga for the 2020-2021 season, sitting behind Atletico Madrid despite having beaten their derby rivals 2-0 in the last meeting. In fact, Los Blancos defeated Atleti three times in 2020, as well as Barcelona twice. More importantly, they were the champions in the 2019-2020 season and are more than capable of winning La Liga again.

As such, it’s no surprise to see that Real Madrid are well-represented in WhoScored.com’s La Liga Team of the Year for 2020. Since it is a “Team of the Year”, both seasons are taken into account, which is probably why Los Blancos don’t have even more players in the XI, such as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and center back Raphael Varane.

Still, three-fourths of the back four are comprised of Real stars, and two of the club’s three midfielders are in the XI as well. Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema are notable snubs, meaning Real could’ve had up to nine players in this XI.

The full XI can be viewed above. Again, there’s an argument for Benzema, but it is also telling that no forwards on Real Madrid made the cut. That shows us just how much of a need a wide forward is for Los Blancos, especially in comparison to their other positions.

As for the rest of the votes, you have to say they are all obvious inclusions. Casemiro is the best defensive midfielder in Europe. Ferland Mendy was, throughout 2020, the only real contender at left back. The same goes for Dani Carvajal on the right. And how could you not vote for Sergio Ramos?

Finally, Luka Modric is the best midfielder in the league – OK, technically Mikel Merino has the higher rating and is also a brilliant player – right now and maybe in all of Europe. He is the most-attacking player on Real Madrid in this Team of the Year, which is only fitting.