Real Madrid: Ranking the 5 best players of the ’90s

3. ROBERTO CARLOS

On number three, we have one of the longer-serving players of the club whose contributions run through two decades making his case to make into a similar list of the 2000s as well. However, what Roberto Carlos did for Real Madrid between 1996 and 2000 is more than enough to have him on the podium for a top 3 finish on this list.

Known for his ridiculous long-range free kicks, Roberto Carlos is one of the best left-footed players to have played for Real Madrid. The club has always been lucky in the left fullback position and the Brazilian was no different. He absolutely owned the left flank. His pace on the ball was a sight to behold covering 100 meters in 10.9 seconds with his shooting speed reaching the highest of 140 kph. That is absolute madness!

The Brazilian prodigy’s development is yet another fascinating story. At 19 years of age, graduating from the Academy at Sao Paulo, he was already an established footballer in Brazil. Palmeiras signed him and there he partnered with Rivaldo for one of the most elite left-wing playing combinations that the World had ever seen. Two league wins later in Brazil, Inter made their move to showcase this fine young man to the whole world and only a year later he’d be a Madridista.

As they say, he came, he saw and he conquered, winning 13 major titles in 11 seasons with Los Blancos. His Real Madrid career includes 527 official appearances which is still a record for appearances by a foreign player. In them, he scored 68 goals which are mighty impressive for a left-back. His 13 major titles include three European Cups two of which were won in the concerned decade, the ’90s. Apart from it, four LaLiga titles, four Super Cups, one European Super Cup, and one Intercontinental cup leave his name in golden letters over the walls of Bernabeu.