5 most influential Real Madrid signings of the 21st century

#3 Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane was a legend as a player and manager for Real Madrid.

When Real Madrid dished out €77.5 million to bring Zinedine Zidane to the Santiago Bernabeu from Juventus in 2001, it was the talk of world football.

Zidane had won the World Cup and European Championship, and he fit the Galacticos mentality perfectly. It was an unbelievable, world-record transfer for the biggest player in the world. While Real Madrid weren't at their best as a whole at the time, Zidane won the hearts of Madridistas with his amazing performances.

It's little surprise that he returned as a manager and catapulted Real Madrid back to glory with renewed dominance. Zidane helped the club win three back-to-back Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018.

The star is currently unemployed in football management. However, there's no telling if he might return to the Santiago Bernabeu as he has done twice now. One of the best players and one of the best managers in the same person, Zidane is an influential enigma.

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#2 Luis Figo

Real Madrid legend Luis Figo.

Rarely does a player make the switch from the Camp Nou to the Santiago Bernabeu. But Florentino Perez wasn't joking about the distances he was willing to go for his galacticos. Luis Figo is recognized as the first massive transfer in the Florentino era, with the star making the shocking switch and excelling in his new home.

It wasn't a cheap transfer for Los Blancos to make, seeing as the Ballon d'Or winner came from a rival club. A record €62 million in 2002 guided Barcelona's unhappy agreement to the deal.

After playing for the Catalans for five years, Figo spent five more at Real Madrid where he won seven trophies, including three continental honors.

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#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid legend and all-time top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

When Real Madrid paid Manchester United €94 million to facilitate Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu, it broke the world record. However, the Portuguese maestro paid back his Galactico fee over and over again with some of the best performances the world has ever seen.

Ronaldo eventually moved to Juventus from Real Madrid in 2018 and is now back with Manchester United. However, the star broke countless records during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu and is Real Madrid's all-time top-scorer with 451 goals from 438 matches. Ronaldo also won four Champions League titles and three Club World Cups with the club as well as two La Ligas.

Ronaldo's astonishing goalscoring prowess, combined with all the trophies he won at Madrid, make him the most influential signing in Real Madrid's recent history. The 36-year-old is viewed by many as Los Blancos' greatest signing of all-time as well, with good reason.