'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Real Madrid are one of the most successful clubs in Europe's top five leagues. The 34-time La Liga winners have won a record 13 Champions League titles, with six of them coming this century.
Considering their rich history and pedigree, a plethora of fine players across positions have played for Madrid over the years. That is especially the case for attackers, who have played a key role in the Merengues' dominance across competitions in the last two decades.
On that note, here's a look at the top five Real Madrid attackers since the turn of the century.
Note: All stats are per transfermarkt unless mentioned otherwise.
#5 Ronaldo Nazario
Ronaldo Nazario is widely regarded as one of the most lethal centre-forwards in the history of the sport.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup winner was a force of nature, displaying pace and ability on the ball that very few defenders could contend with. Also known as the 'other Ronaldo', he had a prolific five-season stint at Real Madrid.
After arriving at the club in the summer of 2002 as part of Madrid's Galacticos project, he scored over 100 goals for the club across competitions. Ronaldo scored a memorable hat-trick in a Champions League game at Old Trafford, which earned him a standing ovation.
Although Real Madrid lost that game, Ronaldo has nothing but happy memories of that hat-trick, saying:
"The whole stadium said goodbye to me with a huge ovation. Everyone stood up, I would never expect something like that. I was surprised by this spontaneous reaction of fans, for whom I was a rival after all. It was a magical moment, one of the most important in my life."
Although Ronaldo didn't win the Champions League during his time in the Spanish capital, he did manage to win two La Liga titles with Los Blancos.
#4 Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale has had a fairly successful stint at Real Madrid. Although his abilities appear to have been on the wane in recent years, the Welshman has been a big-game player for Madrid.
The 32-year-old winger has scored over 100 goals and bagged 68 assists since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu in a big-money move in the summer of 2013. Bale is one of a handful of players to have scored in multiple Champions League finals.
His sumptuous overhead kick in the 2018 final is regarded by many as one of the best goals in Champions League title matches.
The four-time Champions League winner has scored once in three games this season as he seeks to endear himself to the Madrid faithful once again.
#3 Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is one of the most successful attackers to have played for Real Madrid over the years.
The 33-year-old largely lived in the shadow of his illustrious former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo (more on him later) for over a decade.
However, since Ronaldo's departure in the summer of 2018, Benzema has stepped things up a notch. He has scored at least 20 goals in each of his next three La Liga campaigns.
Continuing to age like fine wine, Benzema is on a tear this season, bagging nine goals and seven assists in only eight league games. He has also opened his account in the Champions League, becoming the first player to score in 17 consecutive seasons in the competition.
Having arrived at Madrid in the summer of 2009, the French striker (289) is closing in on 300 goals for the club. The four-time Champions League winner has also racked up an impressive 151 assists during this period.
#2 Raul Gonzalez
Raul Gonzalez is one of only two players to have scored over 300 goals for Real Madrid.
The 44-year-old bagged a rich haul of 323 goals in 16 seasons at the club, a record tally for Madrid when he left them in 2010.
The six-time La Liga winner scored 220 league goals for the Merengues, netting at least five times in each of his 16 campaigns in the competition.
Raul largely played as a centre-forward or second striker for most of his Real Madrid career. It was only towards the end of his stint at the club that he played a few games in midfield.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Well, Cristiano Ronaldo needs little introduction. Widely regarded as one of the best players to have graced the game, Ronaldo racked up a staggering tally of exactly 450 goals in only nine seasons at Real Madrid.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is a bonafide Real Madrid legend, ahead of the club's second-highest top scorer (Raul) by a proverbial country mile.
During his near decade-long stint at Madrid, the attacker played a key role in the Merengues' resurgence as a European powerhouse.
The five-time Champions League winner's staggering exploits at Real Madrid are such that they could possibly stand the test of time.
