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Football is a lot bigger than scoring and defending. It is a game of skill, finesse, and valor. It is a sport of passing-masters and ball-carriers, a game that rewards the brave.
Real Madrid, the most prestigious club in the world, have been fortunate enough to field many world-class footballers over the years. Some of them have not only influenced the game with passes and goals but also their unmatched dribbling skills.
Here, we will take a look at five Real Madrid players of the century who have been rather difficult to handle for defenders. Now, without further ado, let us check out Real Madrid’s top five dribblers of the 21st century.
Special mentions: Marcelo, Angel Di Maria, Arjen Robben
#5 Karim Benzema
Until Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in 2018, Karim Benzema did not get the chance to claim the spotlight at Real Madrid. Now, three years since Ronaldo’s absence at the Bernabeu, Benzema is being backed to win his first Ballon d’Or.
Benzema joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, alongside the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, and Xabi Alonso. 12 years later, it is only the former Lyon man who remains in the Spanish capital.
Benzema has endured quite a few rough patches over the course of his illustrious Real Madrid career, but his dribbling has always been impressive. He is not very quick, to be honest, but the close control he possesses makes all the difference.
Benzema famously dribbled past Atletico Madrid’s staunch backline in the second leg of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League semi-final to set up Isco’s goal. Real Madrid secured a 4-2 aggregate win and went on to reach the finals, thanks to Benzema’s out-of-the-world ball control.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most prolific goalscorer in Real Madrid’s illustrious history. He has outscored the likes of Raul, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas to climb to the top, averaging just over one goal per game.
His outrageous numbers are not only a testament to his world-class off-the-ball movements, but they are also down to his ball-carrying skills.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a lot more than a fox in the box. He used to dominate the left-hand side of the pitch in the early days of his Real Madrid career, used to beat defenders at will. The Portuguese ace's blistering pace and stamina allowed him to emerge as a world-class dribbler, with his exploits only matched by a certain Lionel Messi.
At Real Madrid, Ronaldo’s dribbling skills were generally accompanied by head-turning trickery and clever change of pace. He even added long-range shooting to his arsenal to become one of the most complete forwards in the history of Real Madrid.
#3 Luis Figo
Real Madrid controversially signed Luis Figo from Barcelona in the summer of 2000. He was the best player in the world at the time and even wore the captain’s armband at Barcelona. Hostility ensued following his move to the Spanish capital, but Figo refused to let the off-field antics mess with his in-game brilliance.
At Real Madrid, Figo operated as an attacking midfielder and a right-winger. He was quick, nimble, and was known for his unmatched dribbling. The Portuguese's skill-set allowed him to beat defenders one-on-one more often than not, and the Madridistas loved him for it.
He served Real Madrid until 2005, winning two La Ligas and a Champions League amongst other honors.
#2 Zinedine Zidane
Thanks to his record-breaking managerial spell with Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane has become an undisputed icon at the great club. However, his legacy started long before his coaching stint, it started with his first kick of the ball at Real Madrid in 2001.
Zidane joined Real Madrid from Juventus for a record-breaking fee at the time, which meant he was under pressure to live up to the hype. Thankfully, the 1998 World Cup winner did not have any problem justifying his €77.5m price tag.
The attacking midfielder pulled the strings from the middle and was always prepared to take the game to his opponents. His poise, quick feet and unmatched sense of direction allowed him to emerge as the best dribbler in La Liga at the time.
He was famous for his "Roulettes" and unpredictable change of direction, which very few could read. He won Real Madrid their ninth Champions League title with an insane volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2001-02 season.
#1 Ronaldo Nazario
When it comes to tearing through defenses, the world of football has not seen much better than Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima. The Brazilian striker played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga, but enjoyed a considerably longer spell with Los Blancos.
Despite suffering multiple potentially career-ending injuries, Ronaldo refused to surrender and kept on racking goals and assists at will.
Predominantly a right-footed striker, Ronaldo was hailed as a complete footballer. He could score from range, dribble effortlessly, and had the vision to pick out his team-mates when needed.
Ronaldo spearheaded a new generation of strikers, ones who had the ability to carry the ball into the opposition box and ripple the netting. He did that time and again during his five-year stay at Real Madrid.
He played 177 games for the All Whites, netting 103 goals and providing 35 assists.
