Real Madrid: Ranking the top 7 left-footed players in club history
1. Alfredo Di Stefano
When we talk about left-footed Real Madrid players, there can only be one winner on such a list. And, that is Real Madrid’s immortal legend, Alfredo Di Stefano. To talk about Di Stefano’s importance to Real Madrid is hour’s long affair. The Argentine-born attacker is so key to Real Madrid’s history that their training facility in Valdebebas is named after him. He also gets a mention in the famous club anthem, ‘Hala Madrid y Nada Mas’. When you name one specific player in your club’s anthem you know how much importance he holds in the making of that club.
He was a key contributor to Real Madrid’s five-peat of the European Cup between 1956 and 1960. That legendary team really made European Football pop up into the scene with their brilliance. That was the team that laid the foundation of Real Madrid’s unmatched European heritage. And, Alfredo Di Stefano was the anchor of that famous team of Champions.
He is often regarded as the soul and whole of Real Madrid. He was believed to be the most complete player to have ever played for Real Madrid. A very unpopular opinion is that Luka Modric is probably the closest thing to Alfredo Di Stefano that we’ve had. That is if Modric could somehow pull off the False 9 role.
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Di Stefano was also a prolific goal scorer. He scored 267 official goals for Real Madrid in 348 appearances, per Transfermarkt. Apart from the five European Cup, Di Stefano also played key roles in eight LaLiga triumphs. He also won the coveted Balon d’Or in 1957 and 1959. And, as my colleague, Sai wrote, and I agree, he is the greatest player to have donned the number 9 kit for Real Madrid.