5 most underrated players in Real Madrid history

The lure of Real Madrid is unlike anything football has to offer, and the club's glorious history and great stature have always attracted talented players from all over the world.

However, the guarantee of silverware and of fat pay cheques don't always translate into appreciation for the individual, even if you've been performing to the standards which the club demands.

The presence of more glamorous stars tends to take away the limelight from some other players, making them feel much less appreciated, even if their contributions have been just as valuable as anyone.

Here, we look at five such players who have been grossly underrated at Real Madrid despite everything they've accomplished with them:

#5 Daniel Carvajal

Carvajal has consistently been one of the word's best right-backs

If you were to draw a list of the world's best full-backs, would Daniel Carvajal rank anywhere near the top? If not, that's probably because of all the negative coverage he's been getting from the media.

Exit rumors, lengthy injury spells, and one bad season have all contributed in leading us to believe that the Spaniard isn't an elite-level player anymore, but the reality couldn't have been more different.

Carvajal remains indispensable to Real Madrid, his excellent form last season even playing a crucial role in helping the side win the La Liga title; only his second since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2013.

He's made 291 appearances in total so far, scoring six times and making 50 assists, whilst also making a difference at the back with his impressive defensive capabilities.

Find us a better all-round right-back. We'll wait.

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#4 Keylor Navas

Real Madrid were eager to get rid of Navas despite his stellar performances!

Just an understudy to Iker Casillas during the 2014/15 season, his first since joining from Levante, Keylor Navas established himself as the undisputed number one choice in goal after the Real Madrid legend's departure to Porto the following summer.

Consistently impressive and uber-reliable, the Costa Rican shotstopper almost never failed to deliver for his side, even in the big games.

Despite his performances for Los Blancos, there were near constant rumors of David De Gea or Thibaut Courtois joining Real, which must've been really disappointing for him even after giving it all for the club.

Navas was seldom appreciated at the Bernabeu, and after 162 appearances for them in five years, was offloaded to Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 in a swap deal with Alphonso Areola going the other way.

#3 Raphael Varane

Varane has been a leader at the back for Real Madrid!

There was a time when people thought Raphael Varane didn't have a future at Real Madrid given his struggles for first-team opportunities.

But fast-forward to this day, and the French centre-back is an instrumental part of the squad, almost undroppable even.

His desire to succeed and consistency on the pitch saw him even usurp Pepe at the heart of the backline, forging a new partnership with Sergio Ramos, which is today one of the world's best.

Since breaking into the side in 2011, Varane has made 351 appearances for Real Madrid, with 229 coming in the league, and scoring 17 times too, most of which have been incredible headers.

His future has now been called under question once again, but there's no denying the impact Varane's had on the side in the last decade, even though he isn't appreciated for that as much.

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#2 Angel Di Maria

Di Maria thrived playing alongside Ronaldo and Ozil

It's been so long since Angel Di Maria left Santiago Bernabeu that it's easy to forget he too was once a Galactico.

A prolific creator in his prime with a keen eye for goal and possessing exceptional set-piece prowess, the Argentine magician was highly underrated at the club.

Signed in 2010 by Jose Mourinho, who was very impressed with his exploits at Benfica, Di Maria quickly became a key cog in his side.

In four years at the club, he made 190 appearances, scoring 36 times and making 85 assists, most crucially playing a huge role in Real Madrid's 'La Decima' success of 2014.

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#1 Karim Benzema

One of Real Madrid's greatest players of all time?

For all his unblemished service to Real Madrid for more than a decade now, Karim Benzema remains the most underrated player in the club's history.

Currently the longest serving player active in the squad after only Sergio Ramos and Marcelo, the French striker just doesn't get enough credit for the kind of effort he puts in week in, week out.

Since arriving from Lyon in 2009, he's scored 266 times for Los Blancos in 541 games, including 181 goals in La Liga, more than any other active player except for Lionel Messi.

He's spent a majority of his Galactico career in the shadows of Cristiano Ronaldo, but his contributions to almost all the silverwares won in the last 12 years has been invaluable.