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The 5 greatest players in Real Madrid history

By Harry De Cosemo

MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 19: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring Real's 3rd goal during their La Liga match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on 19 November 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 19: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring Real's 3rd goal during their La Liga match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on 19 November 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – JULY 27: ABSCHIEDSSPIEL fuer Juan Antonio SAMARANCH 2001, Lausanne; REAL MADRID – LAUSANNE 2:1; Zinedine ZIDANE/MADRID (Photo by Michael Kienzler/Bongarts/Getty Images)
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – JULY 27: ABSCHIEDSSPIEL fuer Juan Antonio SAMARANCH 2001, Lausanne; REAL MADRID – LAUSANNE 2:1; Zinedine ZIDANE/MADRID (Photo by Michael Kienzler/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

3. Zinedine Zidane

Although the Galacticos project yielded little substance to match its style, the signing of Zinedine Zidane will forever go down in the club’s history. Three years after leading France to a World Cup victory on home soil and having excelled in Italy with Juventus, the 29-year-old midfielder made the then world-record $54million move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

It took a long time for ‘Zizou’ to settle in Madrid, and he was even booed by the club’s most demanding fans. All was forgotten at the end of his first season when he scored arguably the best ever Champions League goal to help down Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park in 2002.

Having won eleven titles, the European Cup has a special place in Real Madrid hearts. That goal was the last great memory in the competition until they clinched La Decima, the tenth title, in 2014.

Now coach, Zidane is endearing himself to the club all over again and on a whole new level. Winning the Champions League again last season, from the dugout, showed that even though his managerial career is only just beginning, he could hit similar heights to the ones he did as a player.

This season, clinching another league title, their first in four years, is the primary focus. Los Blancos have been in excellent form since the summer and led the way domestically by six points before travelling to Japan for their successful Club World Cup campaign this month.

LaLiga success would certainly please the board, but it is his playing career which affords Zidane his legendary status. Trophies weren’t as regular as he would have liked, but the grace he brought to soccer over his five years in Spain wins him a spot on this list.

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