Real Madrid was established as a football club based in the capital of Spain on 6th March 1902. In the following 119 years, Real Madrid grew to become the greatest club in the history of Spanish football. As Peter Drury said after the epic comeback against Wolfsburg in 2016, Real Madrid is indeed the ‘fantasy club,’ and their players are the ‘History boys.’ They have become the epitome of greatness.
Many greats of the game have played for Real Madrid all these years and won a lot of titles and fans in their tenure. Many of them have created history with Los Blancos, and they’ve successfully become the legends of this historic club. So let’s rewind the history books and remember our footballing legends and idols, by looking at the greatest player to wear each jersey number at Real Madrid.
1 – Iker Casillas
Let us begin the list with the greatest goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spain, whos none other than Iker Casillas. ‘San Iker’, as he’s popularly known, is a La Fabrica graduate, and he spent 25 years of his life at Real Madrid, which he claims to be the ‘club of his life’ and rightly so.
He made his debut in 1999 as a third-choice goalkeeper with the number 27 on his back, but it didn’t take long for him to become Los Blancos’ numero uno, and he ended his Real Madrid career as a legend. He is the master of shot-stopping and very few goalkeepers come close to his level. He’s a born leader, and he won 19 titles in his Real Madrid career, while he captained us to the La Decima in 2014.
The fans would never forget the La Novena final against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002, where he came as a substitute for Cesar Sanchez and won the game and Champions League for the club with an incredible performance. It was perhaps the turning point of his career.
2 – Chendo
Miguel Porlan Noguera, a.k.a Chendo, makes the cut for the number two. He is one of the best right-backs in the history of Real Madrid and belongs to the pool of players who have spent their whole career at Real Madrid. Chendo, an academy graduate of Real Madrid, has won 18 titles in his 16-year stint with the first team, and donned the number 2 jersey for ten years, before passing it on to Panucci.
His greatest game is definitely the one against Napoli in Copa de Europa of 1987/1988, in which he completely silenced the likes of Diego Armando Maradona, who’s considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of football. Chendo, known for his hard work and sacrifice, is still at the club of his life and worked as a delegate for a long time.
Honorary mention: Michel Salgado and Dani Carvajal. But I believe that it won’t take long for Carvajal to replace Chendo.
3 – Roberto Carlos
There’s no wrong in saying that this Brazilian legend, who has spent 11 years with Real Madrid, is the greatest player to wear the number 3 jersey. Roberto Carlos was one of the mainstays of the team during the Galactico era, and he was one of the most important players as well.
Carlos might be of short stature, but he had the ability to scare the opponents with his electric pace, tremendous work rate, and powerful shots. He’s in fact known for his wonderful freekick technique, using which he has scored a lot of memorable freekicks with great swerve. He left the club in 2007, but he is still here as an ambassador of the club since 2016.
Honorary mention: Pepe, Jose Antonio Camacho
4 – Sergio Ramos
We aren’t just talking about the greatest of his position in the club here, we are talking about a player who’s considered for the debate of the greatest centre back of all time here. What should I write about him? He has achieved everything available out there, and few lines aren’t enough to write about him and any other player out there.
‘El Capitano’ is currently in his 16th season as a Real Madrid player. Hope to see Ramos play for Real Madrid for few more years and many fans wish to see the ‘symbol of Madridismo’ retire at the club.
If there’s one moment to define his greatness, it’s definitely his goal in the La Decima final, in the 92nd-minute 48th second, which took the game to extra time.
Honorary mention: Fernando Hierro, Pirri, Miguel Munoz.
5 – Zinedine Zidane
Zidane played for just five years at Real Madrid. But those five seasons were enough to make Zidane the greatest midfielder in the history of Real Madrid, and perhaps the sport as well. One word to define his career is ‘class.’ Every touch of his, every pass, every move, every skill was pure class and elegance oozed by Zidane.
His greatest moment? Definitely the sensational volley in the 2002 Champions League final against Leverkusen. Currently, he’s the manager of Real Madrid, and he’s busy creating history as a manager as well.
Honorary mention: Manolo Sanchis, Raphael Varane, Jose Santamaria
6 – Fernando Redondo
The highlight reel of his outrageous assist to Raul in the Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United in 2000 is enough to talk about the quality of Fernando Redondo. The Argentine is the symbol of grace and is the perfect deep-lying playmaker that any team wants.
He spent just six years at Real Madrid while wearing the number six on his back, but mesmerized many people with his skills, including legends like Jorge Valdano and Sir Alex Ferguson. Nicknamed as the ‘Prince’ of Real Madrid, Redondo won six titles in six years, including two Champions League titles.
7 – Cristiano Ronaldo
The number 7 is the most loved number by Madridistas, and you will always see the Grada fans waving the number 7 flag in the Estadio Santigo Bernabeu. So many legends have worn the number seven for Real Madrid, but the greatest player to wear it is definitely one of the greatest players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo.
451 goals and 131 assists in 438 games. These are simply extraterrestrial numbers, and these numbers are enough to show why Madridistas and many football fans see him as the ‘El Major del Mundo.’ He has given us so many wonderful moments in his nine-year stint at Real Madrid, and the fans will never forget the impact of ‘El Bicho’.
Though Cristiano is the greatest to wear number seven, it is important to acknowledge other legends who have worn the same number.
First up, it is the ‘Eternal Capitan’ of Real Madrid, Raul Gonzalez. The second best goalscorer o Real Madrid and a la Fabrica graduate, he’s currently coaching Castilla. He’s definitely a contender for the manager post in the future. Not to forget the current director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno. The legendary striker is someone who has practically spent the whole of his career at Real Madrid.
Last but not least, let’s remember Juan Gomez Gonzalez, popularly known as ‘Juanito’. He is perhaps the most loved player by the Bernabeu. Even today, the fans remember his name in the seventh minute of every game by chanting “Illa, Illa, Illa…Juanito Maravilla.”
8 – Toni Kroos
When Toni Kroos was bought in 2014 for a fee of 25 million euros, people had their own doubts. But every passing season has made fans only wonder how Real Madrid got such a wonderful player for just 25 million euros. The best word to describe the ‘German sniper’ is perfection. He aims for perfection in everything, and he executes every move with perfection.
Toni Kroos is still 31-years-old, and he has practically won everything available out there. He is currently the best in his position, but it is just a matter of time before we see Kroos become one of the greatest midfielders of all time.
Honorary mention: Predrag Mijatovic, Michel Gonzalez
9 – Alfredo Di Stefano
In terms of significance, ‘Don’ Alfredo di Stefano is the greatest player in the history of Real Madrid. He took Real Madrid to a whole different level after his arrival and played a crucial role in the famous 5-peat of the European Cup between 1956 and 1960.
Often regarded as one of the most complete players ever to grace the football pitch, di Stefano scored 308 goals in 396 games for Real Madrid. He is seen as the whole and soul of Real Madrid, and he was a person related to Real Madrid until his death. To watch the current Real Madrid team play in a stadium named after the biggest player in the history of the club.
Again, the number nine is an iconic number in the history of the club, and many legends including Ivan Zamorano, Santillana, Hugo Sanchez, Ronaldo Nazario and Karim Benzema have worn that number. It is very important to acknowledge the contribution of such legends who’ve worn the same number as Alfredo di Stefano.
10 – Ferenc Puskas
Puskas joined Real Madrid as a 31-year-old player who was reported to be overweight after a two-year ban. But he surprised everyone out there by scoring 242 goals in 262 games for Real Madrid, which is simply a dream goal ratio for any player, and the only Real Madrid player to have a better goal ratio is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Hungarian striker had an exceptional ability to score goals from every half chance.
This player who was seen as a finished player at the age of 31, retired at the age of 39 after an extraordinary career at Real Madrid, winning 14 trophies in 9 seasons. Ferenc Puskas is simply greatness personified!
Honorary mentions – Ferenc Puskas, Clarence Seedorf, Luis Figo, Hector Rial
11 – Paco Gento
Popularly known as ‘La Galerna del Cantabrico’, Paco Gento is one of the greatest Spanish players of all time. In his 18 seasons as a Real Madrid player, he won 24 trophies with the number eleven on his back and was Real’s most important player alongside Di Stefano and Puskas.
He was a force to reckon from the left flank with all the skills in his bag, and he is considered to be one of the greatest in his position. He belongs to a generation where there no speed guns, but he has a reputation of being one of the fastest players ever. The fact that the club had appointed him as the ‘Honorary president’ shows how much they value their legend.
Honorary mention: Ronaldo Nazario, Gareth Bale
12 – Marcelo
Another current Real Madrid player makes it to the list, and this time it is another legendary Brazilian left-back, Marcelo. In his 15th season as a Madridista, Marcelo might be on the decline, but he has nothing to prove now and the world has witnessed his quality all these years.
He has that signature Brazilian style in him, and that was always visible in his gameplay. He is often regarded as the most skillful fullback ever, and in his prime, he was literally unstoppable. He had the perfect technique to humiliate a player, but above all, he had the ultimate passion to drive Real Madrid to glory. Players like him show how close a club can be to a player’s heart.
13 – Paco Buyo
The number 13 is often used by second-choice goalkeepers, so it is very difficult to choose one among them. Even Paco Buyo wore the number one for the majority of his career, but he is arguably the greatest ever to grace this number.
He’s someone who began his career as a winger but ended up as a goalkeeper. He was such a sensational keeper that he was literally untouchable between 1988 and 1997. He was a part of the “Quinta del Buitre”, and he went on to win 13 trophies in his 11 years at Real Madrid.
14 – Xabi Alonso
Though Xabi Alonso played for just 5 seasons at Real Madrid, he was very much loved by the Bernabeu. He was the perfect ‘Regista’ born straight out of the textbook, and his long passing ability was definitely this standout trait. Part of Spain’s ‘Golden generation’, he was often considered as one of the best in his generation.
He was a very crucial player in Jose Mourinho’s centurions and played a key role in winning the La Decima. If there is one moment to describe his Madridismo, I would choose the moment during the La Decima final, where he jumped onto the pitch from the stand and came running to celebrate with his on-field teammates after Gareth Bale’s winning goal.
Honorary mention: Guti, Casemiro
15 – Michael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup spent just two seasons at Real Madrid. but his magical abilities make him the best player ever to play with number 15 on his back. His ability to create chances from absolutely nothing was truly amazing.
He was signed from FC Barcelona (Yes, you read it right!) in 1994. He had won 4 consecutive league titles with FC Barcelona until 1994, but he played a crucial role in leading Real Madrid to the League title in 1995, and thus ended the domination of his former club.
Honorary mention: Luis Milla, Morientes
16 – Paco Llorente
Paco Llorente wasn’t a regular starter for the club, but as they say, one moment is enough to make a player a fan-favourite. On November 1, 1989, in a European Cup game against AC Milan, the Spanish winger had a dislocation. But he entered the field back with his left arm in a sling to play the final quarter of the game.
That moment, which had shown Paco’s passion for Real Madrid, was enough to win over the fans. The moment is cherished a lot by the fans, and glimpses of the same fighting spirit were visible in Paco’s son, Marcos Llorente, when he played for the club.
17 – Alvaro Arbeloa
Right back Alvaro Arbeloa isn’t someone who became a beloved and respected Real Madrid player purely because of his footballing abilities. He is someone who kept fighting for the badge on the pitch and gave his one hundred per cent for his boyhood club. It’s his passion that made him an absolute warrior, a fantastic teammate on the pitch, and a true Real Madrid icon who will always be remembered.
Whenever I see his name there is one quote that always comes to my mind:
"“This is what Real Madrid is all about. When everyone thinks we are dead and buried, we go and win the Champions League. Real Madrid is synonymos with the Champions League. That is why we are the best”"
Alpha mentality. That’s exactly what Madridistas want to see.
18 – No qualifiers
19 – Luka Modric
From being labeled as the worst signing of 2012 to becoming a Ballon D’or winner with Real Madrid, Luka Modric has come a long way. In these nine years at Real Madrid, Luka Modric has taken his game to a whole new level and he has achieved something a player can only dream of. There’s no wrong in saying that Luka is among the top-3 midfielders of all time, and he has been a blessing for Los Merengues and football.
Luka Modric has made football look so easy that people are wondering if playing at an elite level at the age of 35, like Luka Modric, is an easy thing. Luka’s life has been about proving people wrong and clearing every challenge. It’s fair to say that Luka Modric isn’t done yet and he has miles to go before he calls it a day.
20 – Gonzalo Higuain
In his seven-year stint at Real Madrid, Gonzalo Higuain was never really a starter. He was understudy to many strikers, but whenever he was given a chance he had shown his lethal nature. This made Jose Mourinho trust him more than Karim Benzema and rotated both of them well during his tenure. Higuain was such a lethal player in front of the goal that he had actually scored more league goals than Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2009/10 season. If not for injuries, he would have definitely had a career filled with greatness at Real Madrid.
21 – Santiago Solari
The left-footed Argentine was a menace down the left flank. He was an industrious player and had the ability to create some chances from the wing. He was an instrumental player in his five years at the club and played over 200 matches for the club. He won six trophies, including the 2002 Champions League triumph. He didn’t have a great career as a manager at Real Madrid, and fortune did favour him. But he had a fearless approach as a manager, and his presence brought the best out of youngsters like Vinicius Jr, Sergio Reguilon, and Marcos Llorente.
22 – Christian Karembeu
He had spent just two and a half seasons at Real Madrid, but those were enough to make an impact. He was a highly energetic player, someone who liked to play it the hard way. He was technically sound and had a great range of passing. In his short stint at Real Madrid, he had won four trophies including two European cups in 1998 and 2000.
23 – David Beckham
When someone builds their whole election campaign around a single player, everyone can get a measure of how important the player might have been. Joan Laporta might have won the elections at Barcelona using Beckham’s signing as his weapon, but it was Florentino Perez who brought the magical Englishman to Real Madrid.
David Beckham was a popular figure by then, and he brought a lot of hype along with him. His singing made a lot of money for Madrid off-the-field, while he bamboozled everyone with his magic on the pitch. Though he won just two titles in his four seasons, he had flattered everyone with his skills, particularly his passing. It was a pleasure to watch the Englishman in full flow.
24 – Claude Makelele
In football, a defensive midfielder’s role might be one of the most underappreciated ones, but at the same time, it’s the most important role for any team. Makelele’s case was the team. The team had excelled in the field with Makelele in front of the back-four, acting as the backbone and the natural ball winner of the team.
His importance wasn’t realised until he was gone, as the team collectively struggled as a unit after his departure to Chelsea, and many senior players did express their displeasure with the club regarding Makelele’s departure. But all this doesn’t change the fact that Makelele is perhaps the greatest Real Madrid player to wear the number 24 of Real Madrid. In his three seasons as a Real Madrid player, he won seven trophies including the La Novena win at Glasgow.