Real Madrid has been a house to generations of footballing superstars. While some players were blessed with the ability to play equally well with both their feet, some were heavily dependent on one. A recurring theme this season has been some match-winning left-footed golazos from Marco Asensio. Toni Kroos also pulled off an unreal strike with his left foot against Inter Milan in their home game in the Champions League group stages. So did Luka Modric, against Real Sociedad in an excruciating fashion.
As is always the case, these wonder goals kept me thinking about the use of the left foot and how some players in club history who were left-footed have left a permanent mark on the history of this glorious club. And as I always do, to submit to my curiosity, I looked up the archives. What follows is a list of the top seven left-footed players in Real Madrid’s history.
7. Iker Casillas
The first name to kick start this list is that of a club captain and eternal legend who has been called a saint in popular culture by Madridistas. It is obviously, Iker Casillas. He only ends at number 7 on this list because he was a goalkeeper. He was left-footed but he wasn’t generally forced to use his left foot in ways outfield players did. Even then, his legacy with Real Madrid is enough to put him up among the honorable mentions on this list.
Iker Casillas or San Iker as he is called is undoubtedly a modern-day Saint of the game. When talking of Real Madrid’s Goalkeepers, the first name that would pop in anyone’s mind is Casillas. He deservedly won our rankings of the best goalkeepers in club history. Known for his amazing shot-spotting abilities, he is someone who played at all levels of Real Madrid, starting from the junior team.
He achieved over a thousand professional appearances for Los Blancos, was a first-team captain, and has the record for most clean sheets in Champions League as well as for the Spanish National team. He won the Champions League for Real Madrid Castilla at 19 years and four days old to become the youngest goalkeeper to win the competition.
This was followed by an obvious promotion to the senior team and the rest as they say is history. Iker Casillas is Spain’s most decorated keeper. The 2008 World Cup winner went on to win every single competition at the club level with Los Blancos. This included five league titles and three UEFA Champions League among the 18 major titles by his name. An absolute club legend, he left his decorated legacy at Real Madrid when he decided to make a move to Porto on a free transfer in 2015.
6. Marcelo
Real Madrid’s current club captain, Marcelo makes his case at number six. We’ll see if he elevates his position further but the competition ahead of him is tough and he looks to be in the final days of his career. Regardless, Marcelo is a true legend for Los Blancos winning 23 major titles during his time. And, he looks to be on course to win another league title this season and maybe the Champions League. Either of these two trophies would create a club record, right now he is tied with the legendary Paco Gento who also has 23 major honors to his name whilst playing for the club.
In his prime, Marcelo was one of the best left-footed players to watch. He had tremendous skills on the ball and a decent left-footed strike. His deliveries into the box and quality first touches are of the quality anyone would put in a highlight reel.
Marcelo has established himself as the best modern-day left-back with his performances for Real Madrid. He was instrumental in Real Madrid’s four Champions League wins in five seasons. He has earned a place in FIFA’s FIFPRO XI six times over the last decade.
Marcelo has made a total of 544 official appearances for Real Madrid and in them, he has scored 38 goals while assisted 102 goals for teammates, per Transfermarkt. Although he doesn’t quite have the legs he once did, some of his performances this season have been handy enough to support Real Madrid so far in the season.
While his exploits on the International stage are limited, he did play an instrumental role in Brazil’s Confederation Cup win in 2013. Known for his audacious skills and composure on the ball, he leaves a huge task on the shoulders of younger players like Miguel Gutierrez to imitate his level of quality, we’ll see if anyone comes close.
5. Roberto Carlos
Only a few players leave their mark on a specific position on the football field as Roberto Carlos did with the left-back position. He revitalized it for the good and was one of the very first ones to join attack and defense together. Roberto Carlos made huge strides in his career for club and country. Not to forget, he was one of the most masterful users of the left-foot that Madridistas were treated to inside the Bernabeu. It is no surprise that he recently appeared in our list of top 10 left-backs of all time.
A figure idolized by many modern-day full-backs, Carlos was blessed with tremendous pace and a fierce left-foot strike. Only a few could hit the ball as cleanly as Carlos did. Videos of his long-range free-kicks are flooding the internet today. He was designated as Brazil’s left-footed free-kick specialist after a wonder goal he scored against France in 1997. That special goal is up there in the archives as one of his finest.
He did have a few such strikes in the white shirt too, as he replicated his success with his country for his clubs. For Brazil, Carlos earned 125 caps, played in three world cups, and helped them win the World Cup in 2002. Not to forget, has two Copa Americas under his belt. In 2002 he was the runner-up to teammate Ronaldo Nazario for the Ballon d’Or.
For his tremendous run in club football, Carlos had to spend his formative years in Brazil before being launched into the big stage by Inter Milan. It was only after his transfer to Real Madrid that he truly hit his top gears. He made 524 appearances for Los Blancos while scoring 69 goals, winning four LaLiga titles, and three Champions League titles. Undoubtedly, one of the best left-footed Real Madrid players and a club legend!
4. Gareth Bale
On number four, we have a player who isn’t enjoying the best of his times at the Spanish Capital right now. Chances have been scarce for him and frequent injuries have crept in. I am of course talking about the Welsh Dragon, Gareth Bale. Bale is undoubtedly one of the best left-footed Real Madrid attackers in history.
Over the years, Bale has given us moments of absolute magic, may it be the run he made against Barcelona in a cup final to score a goal or the magical overhead kick he scored against Liverpool in the final of the Champions League. Gareth Bale is a Real Madrid legend and no amount of ‘boos’ from the Spanish fans inside the Bernabeu can change that fact.
He is a magical, gifted player. Look no more behind than his wonderful free-kick against Austria. That was a gentle reminder of his capabilities. It is just that Bale hasn’t had the best of times recently. But, that shouldn’t take away the fact that he is a fine, fine player. There was hardly anyone better than him on the right-wing during his prime.
Bale has scored a total of 106 goals and assisted 67 in his 258 official appearances for Real Madrid. His trophy cabinet includes four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, and two LaLigas among other titles. He has been a key contributor to Real Madrid’s three-peat of the coveted Champions League. This season too, he started if fine style. Alas, injuries and bad luck has had their say.
3. Ferenc Puskas
Ferenc Puskas joined Real Madrid as a 31-year-old after serving a two-year ban from UEFA that didn’t allow him to play in Europe. At 31 years of age, he wasn’t the most ideal transfer to be sought after by Real Madrid. However, he surprised the football community with his talent and prolific finishing skills, and his magical use of the left foot.
In his very first La Liga season, he scored four hat-tricks. That was just the start of blessed footballing folklore. At times it seemed like Puskas only dealt in hat-tricks, he scored loads of them. He scored 20 or more goals in each of his first six seasons in the Spanish league and won the Pichichi four times: in 1960, 1961, 1963, and 1964 scoring 25, 28, 26, and 21 goals, respectively. He helped Real win La Liga five times in a row between 1961 and 1965 and the Copa del Generalísimo in 1962.
His record in totality is 242 goals in 262 games for Real Madrid. Only Cristiano Ronaldo so far has succeeded to overcome this fine ratio. If there was ever one word to describe Puskas, it was consistency. It is no wonder that he also has a FIFA award named after him. The year’s most beautiful/best goal gets awarded the Puskas Award!
Puskas, considered an out-of-favor star when his transfer was finalized in 1958 retired at the age of 39 in 1965 after having an outstanding Real Madrid career. He was blessed with a magical left foot and was definitely one of the best left-footed players to play for the Royal White FC. He deservedly featured in the top position on our list of best No.10’s in Real Madrid’s history.
2. Raul Gonzalez
A personal childhood hero, a beloved prince of the Bernabeu, and a home-grown Spanish talent, Raul Gonzalez deserves it all. He was the undisputed striker king of Madrid between 1994 and 2007. In his glory days, it almost seemed like he couldn’t set a foot wrong. He was one of the best left-footed players that the Bernabeu had ever seen and for that matter, he was also one of the best left-footed Spanish players of all time.
His playing style was very unique, he was an extremely skilled dribbler and carried the ability to finish from any given angle. He was definitely one of the greatest ever players to don the number seven kit for the Royal Whites. Alas, he couldn’t replicate the sort of success he had with Real Madrid for his national side. The record of being the club’s second-highest goalscorer speaks volumes about him. Although now, that record is in massive danger from Karim Benzema.
Raul was an extremely strong footballer not only did he possess exceptional upper-body strength to shake off challenges, but his mental strength is also praiseworthy. His career at Real Madrid was put at threat by Florentino Perez’s Galacticos policy. It aimed to get the very best footballer from around the world into the Bernabeu. However, his talent, quality, and exceptional ability kept him around. While several La Fabrica graduates moved away from the club, Raul stayed. He competed for his role in the squad and the process established himself as the striker king of Madrid.
Not to forget, his marriage with Real Madrid is still very strong. He coaches the club’s reserve team called the Real Madrid Castilla. He is very much in the conversation to become the first team coach in the near future. Raul is the sort of player you can never ever detach Real Madrid from.
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.