'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAIAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/2gAIAQEAAAAAHmP/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG/9oACAECEAAAADX/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAADf/xAAfEAACAgEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMRBAAFEyEGBxT/2gAIAQEAAT8Ak8D2N4NtikTi4WP1MFsyKWuxXd11rN9f4r5k7YzMkBdjGpcGlvoa/8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEDFSH/2gAIAQIBAT8At508P//EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgP/2gAIAQMBAT8AetH/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
According to people good with numbers, only 35 percent of professional footballers are left-footed. Real Madrid have somehow still managed to field a surprisingly healthy number of left-footed players since 2000 itself.
These players have tried to follow in the footsteps of the great Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas, hoping to go down in Real Madrid history.
Today, we will take a look at six left-footed players in the 21st century who have lit up the Santiago Bernabeu time and again. Now without further ado, let us get straight to it.
Special mentions: Iker Casillas, Arjen Robben, James Rodriguez.
#6 Mesut Ozil (2010 - 2013)
Following an impressive World Cup campaign in 2010, Mesut Ozil joined Spanish giants Real Madrid in an €18m transfer. Jose Mourinho deployed the German as an attacking-midfielder and the former Werder Bremen did not disappoint.
Ozil was not the quickest player in the squad, but he surely knew how to dispatch a match-winning pass. He became an integral part of Jose Mourinho’s counter-attacking machine and formed a telepathic connection with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Between 2010 and 2013, Ozil featured in 159 games for Real Madrid, registering 27 goals and 80 assists.
#5 Angel Di Maria (2010 - 2014)
Like Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria also signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2010. The Benfica man added pace and width to Real Madrid’s midfield, and that is exactly what he did over the coming seasons.
Di Maria’s world-class left-foot and one-on-one dribbling ability allowed him to venture into the opposition box more often than not.
Thanks to a stacked midfield, Di Maria took a while to cement his position in the team, but his efforts eventually paid off. Under Carlo Ancelotti, Di Maria emerged as one of Real Madrid’s best performers in the Champions League.
The Argentine was chosen as Man of the Match in the 2013-14 Champions League final, but he was sold to Manchester United the following transfer window.
#4 Gareth Bale
Real Madrid made Gareth Bale the most expensive player in the history of the sport in the summer of 2013. The objective was to build a team capable of winning the Champions League, and Bale was the final piece of the puzzle.
The left-footed Welshman was one of Real Madrid’s best players in the 2013-14 campaign, scoring in both the Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League finals.
He performed admirably over the next two seasons as well but has not been able to replicate his heroics since.
#Robert Carlos (1996 - 2007)
Real Madrid have always been fond of defenders with the soul of an attacker. The club have always encouraged flamboyance, even at the expense of stability at the back. Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos matched Real Madrid’s sentiment to a T, which is why he is still adored so much by the Santiago Bernabeu faithful.
Roberto Carlos joined Real Madrid in 1996 and inspired a generation of full-backs to be more adventurous and to trust their gut. The left-footed left-back tore through the left flank at will, paying no mind to the rough challenges that flew in.
Carlos’ exuberance knew no bounds and he was always up for sprinting down his preferred flank.
He was also a set-piece specialist, capable of shooting from ridiculous distances with his left foot. In 1997, he scored an impossible free-kick for Brazil against France, whose charisma remains unbeaten to this day.
Between 1996 and 2007, he played 527 games for Real Madrid, scoring 70 goals and providing 90 assists.
#2 Marcelo (2007 - Present)
With Roberto Carlos in the twilight of his career, Real Madrid decided to try their luck again with another Brazilian in 2007. Marcelo, who was only 18 at the time, was ecstatic to get the chance to learn from his idol and signed the contract immediately.
Initially, the lack of game time frustrated him, but he eventually became an integral part of the Real Madrid squad.
Marcelo did not have a thunderous left-foot like Carlos, but he more than made up for it with his dribbling and crossing ability. The current Real Madrid captain has played 530 games for the club so far, registering 38 goals and 101 assists.
He may not be Real Madrid’s first-choice full-back anymore, but the four-time Champions League winner can still make a difference when called upon.
#1 Raul (1994 - 2010)
Real Madrid’s captain extraordinaire Raul Gonzales sits pretty at the top of our list and deservedly so. Between 1994 and 2010, Raul was the prince of Real Madrid - the man who could do no wrong. He was an excellent dribbler, could score from anywhere on the pitch, and had the heart of a lion.
The Spanish forward personified the spirit of Real Madrid. He was an exemplary sportsman and always managed to put the club above him. His record of 323 goals in 741 appearances speaks volumes of the player he was and Los Blancos were lucky to call him their own.
With Raul leading from the front, Real Madrid won six La Ligas and four Champions League titles amongst other honors.
