Ranking the 10 greatest Real Madrid players of all time

Bhargav
Ranking the greatest footballers to play for Real Madrid.
Ranking the greatest footballers to play for Real Madrid.

#6 Paco Gento

Paco Gento is a Real Madrid legend.
Paco Gento is a Real Madrid legend.

Paco Gento is a Real Madrid legend in his own right. The 88-year-old is the only player to win six European Cups (now called the UEFA Champions League), winning five of them on the trot.

He made over 600 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring nearly 200 goals. The winger was an integral part of a forward line comprising Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas (more on them later).

The former Spain international is widely regarded as one of Spain's best players of all time. Apart from his crossing ability from the flanks, Gento also possessed a mean shot from distance.


#5 Raul (Real Madrid's second-most prolific goalscorer of all-time)

Raul scored over 300 goals for Real Madrid.
Raul scored over 300 goals for Real Madrid.

Raul is a legendary player in Real Madrid history. The former Spain attacker is one of only two players to score over 300 goals for the club.

With 323 goals in nearly 750 games for the capital club, Raul was Real Madrid's all-time top scorer before he was displaced by Cristiano Ronaldo (more on him later). During his illustrious 16-year stint with the Merengues, Raul played a key role in Real Madrid's six La Liga and three Champions League triumphs.

Predominantly playing as a centre-forward or second striker, the versatile Raul could also operate on the wings and in attacking midfield. Two and a half decades after scoring a hat-trick as an 18-year-old, Raul remains the youngest player to score three goals in a Champions League game.


#4 Ferenc Puskas

Ferenc Puskas (pic courtesy Guardian)
Ferenc Puskas (pic courtesy Guardian)

Ferenc Puskas is widely regarded as one of the best players to have graced the game. The magnificent Magyar arrived in Madrid past his 30th birthday. Nevertheless, it didn't take long for Puskas to enthrall the Madrid faithful with his silken skills on the ball and sublime goalscoring ability.

During a hugely successful eight-season stint at Real Madrid, Puskas scored nearly 250 goals and won three European Cups and five La Liga titles. He formed a deadly partnership with the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Kopa and Paco Gento.

Blessed with a magical left foot, Puskas scored many brilliant goals for Real Madrid. The late four-time Pichichi winner was honored by FIFA, who named their annual Best Goal of the Year award after Puskas.

Puskas passed away in 2006 at the age of 79 after contracting pneumonia, but his legacy lives on.

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