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Boasting 13 Champions Leagues and 34 La Liga titles, Real Madrid are statistically the most decorated club in Europe. The whole philosophy of Los Blancos is based around one thing - winning, and they tend to go to any extent to meet their goal.
Real Madrid do have a capable youth academy in place, but they are not fond of putting all their eggs in one basket. The club have brought some exceptional talents such as Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldo Nazario, to the Santiago Bernabeu over the years. Many of these footballers were already the best in the business, but Real Madrid gave them the opportunity to soar even higher.
Today, we will take a look at five Ballon d’Or winners who have made a difference. Here are the top five Ballon d’Or winners in Real Madrid’s illustrious history:
#5 Luka Modric
Seeing Luka Modric on this list of Real Madrid greats may come as a surprise to some, but we believe his inclusion is completely justified. From being dubbed the worst signing of 2012 by readers of Spanish newspaper Marca to winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018, Modric has surely come a long way.
He did not have it easy in the Spanish capital, but he never lost sight of his goal and ultimately emerged victorious.
Luka Modric, 36, has played over 400 games for Los Blancos. The central midfielder is an expert at carrying the ball, has a killer right foot, and is a capable interceptor.
The Croatian international is the metronome of this Real Madrid team and it is almost impossible to imagine life after he calls it a day.
#4 Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane is widely hailed as one of the best midfielders to ever play the game. He was elegant, full of poise, and could practically talk to the sphere we call football.
Zidane’s brilliance was beyond comprehension and Real Madrid were desperate to have the Frenchman on their books. In 2001, the Spanish giants signed the Frenchman from Juventus for a world-record fee of €77.5 million and got more than what they paid for.
In his debut season, Zinedine Zidane scored an iconic volley in the Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen, winning the game for Real Madrid. He remained in the Spanish capital for five seasons and no one could dismantle him from the team.
Zidane did not win his Ballon d’Or with Real Madrid, but his performances were worthy of a shout.
The 1998 Ballon d’Or winner returned to the club as manager in 2016 and led the club to a historic Champions League three-peat.
#3 Ronaldo Nazario
Real Madrid have had several prolific goalscorers over the years, but very few were as explosive as Ronaldo Nazario. The Brazilian was an exceptional striker of the ball and could take apart any defense in the world on his day. Ronaldo won two Ballon d’Ors, in 1997 and 2002, but neither was due to his exploits at Real Madrid.
Ronaldo’s quick feet, acceleration, and versatility in front of goal made Real Madrid sign the Ballon d’Or winner from Inter Milan for €46 million in 2002. He scored twice in his debut, netted a hat-trick in the Champions League and scored the fastest goal (15 seconds) in the Madrid derby.
Ronaldo’s 23 goals in his debut season won the La Liga title for Real Madrid, but niggling injuries kept him from winning much else in Spain.
#2 Alfredo Di Stefano
In many ways, no one has ever defined the spirit of Real Madrid better than Don Alfredo Di Stefano. He was focused, smart, and never knew how to back down.
The Argentine, who was on his way to Barcelona, was signed controversially by Real Madrid in 1953. The Catalan giants were left hard done by the move, which only intensified their rivalry with Los Blancos. Nicknamed “The Blonde Arrow,” Di Stefano was arguably the most agile and technically gifted goalscorer at the time.
The Real Madrid talisman was also exceptional at linking up with his teammates in and around the final third. His traits helped Real Madrid become the most prestigious club in Europe, allowing them to bag five consecutive European Cups between 1955 and 1960, with Di Stefano scoring in each final.
For his inhumane efforts, Di Stefano won the Ballon d’Or in 1957 and 1959. He is also the only player to win the Super Ballon d’Or (1989), officially making him the best player in the history of European football.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Seeing Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of this list should not come as a surprise to anyone. The Portugal international is Real Madrid's leading goalscorer with 451 goals and it will be a while before anyone comes close. Not only has Ronaldo won five Ballons d’Or, but he also managed to win four of them during his nine-year spell at Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants signed 2008 Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United in the summer of 2009, hoping to rejuvenate the Galactico policy.
Los Blancos did not taste league or continental success right away, but Ronaldo was by far their best player. If not for Lionel Messi, Ronaldo would have been La Liga’s best player and would have had a few more accolades to his name.
In his nine-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Cristiano Ronaldo managed to win two La Liga titles and four Champions League titles amongst other honors. The 36-year-old is currently plying his trade at his old club, Manchester United.
