Real Madrid's greatest XI of all time

Bhargav
Real Madrid has had some amazing players in its glorious history
Real Madrid has had some amazing players in its glorious history

Right-back - Chendo

Chendo
Chendo

Miguel Porlan Noguera, more commonly known as Chendo, played for Real Madrid during his entire professional career.

After graduating through the youth ranks at the club, Chendo made his Real Madrid debut under Alfredo Di Stefano in 1984 and never looked back. During his 16-season stint at the Santiago Bernabeu, the right-back won seven La Liga titles, one UEFA Cup and two European Cups (now called the Champions League) among other exaltations.

Chendo was the undisputed right-back for Real Madrid in the side's five consecutive La Liga triumphs from 1986 to 1990. The Spaniard also made his name by taking a certain Diego Maradona out of the game in a European Cup clash with Napoli in 1987.


Central midfielder - Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos may have been at Real Madrid for only six seasons but during this relatively short period at the club, the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner has won over the Madrid faithful.

A central midfielder par excellence, the former Bayern Munich player is renowned for his passing range, creativity, break-up of the opposition play and chance-creating abilities. His versatility allows him to be deployed in a plethora of midfield roles like deep-lying playmaker, box-to-box midfielder or even as a defensive midfielder.

Despite his accurate shots from a distance, Kroos doesn't score a lot of goals. He has scored only 19 times in 284 appearances for Real Madrid but has conjured scoring opportunities aplenty - 68 of them to be precise.

Quite simply, the 30-year-old German international has been an indispensable player for Real Madrid, winning three Champions League and two La Liga titles among other domestic and continental honours.


Left-winger - Paco Gento

Paco Gento poses with his six European Cup titles.
Paco Gento poses with his six European Cup titles.

Paco Gento is widely regarded as one of the greatest Spanish players of all time and one of the best to have worn the famous Real Madrid jersey.

During his 18-season stint with Real Madrid from 1953 to 1971, the player blazed a trail down the left flank, with his excellent vision and technical ability helping him create a bevvy of scoring opportunities for teammates.

Apart from his goal-creating prowess, Gento also scored plenty of goals for Madrid - netting 134 times in all competitions.

He has also won a staggering 12 La Liga and six European Champions Clubs' Cup (now called the Champions League) titles - both of them being record tallies.


Central midfielder - Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane, affectionately nicknamed Zizou, is arguably one of the greatest footballers to have played the sport.

After arriving from Juventus on a world-record transfer in the summer of 2001, Zidane endeared himself to the Real Madrid faithful by scoring a stunner of a goal against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final to deliver the club's ninth title in the competition.

The versatile Frenchman, who won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 European Championships with France, is renowned for his technical abilities, vision, scoring and goal-creating prowess.

He did not score a lot of goals for Real Madrid - 49 of them to be exact - but he provided many assists (68) to his teammates.

Zidane's game transcended beyond numbers. Among major honours, he might have won just one La Liga title and one Champions League title for Real Madrid, but his presence brought a much-needed calmness to his team. That was because the 1998 Ballon d'Or winner could seemingly create magic out of thin air.

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