Ranking greatest Real Madrid midfielders of all time

Real Madrid are one of, if not the greatest clubs in the world. They have won the highest number of major trophies in history, including a record 15 UEFA Champions League trophies. For context, the second best are AC Milan with seven UCL trophies.

Los Blancos have dominated football over the years domestically and at European level. They have been able to do so because of some incredible players who have played for the club. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Alfredo di Stefano, and more have graced the pitch of the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, it isn’t always about the forwards as Real Madrid have had some exceptional midfielders in their ranks as well. Some of the greatest Real Madrid midfielders have also gone on to win the Ballon d’Or. These are not just the best Real Madrid midfielders of all time, but some can claim to be the best midfielders of all time.

List of greatest Real Madrid midfielders

10. Michael Laudrup

Players moving between arch-rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid are rare, but Michael Laudrup was one of the players who made it work. Having spent five years at Barca, he joined Los Blancos in 1994 after a falling out with manager Johan Cruyff.

He helped the Merengues win the La Liga title in his first season. In his two seasons with them, he scored 15 goals and provided 20 assists in 76 games. Laudrup is also the only player to have been a part of a 5-0 win on both sides in an El Clasico.

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9. Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso joined Los Blancos from Liverpool in 2009 and spent five years at the club. He helped them win numerous trophies, including the much-awaited La Decima (10^th Champions League trophy) in the 2013-14 season.

Alonso made 236 appearances for the club, scoring six goals and providing 31 assists. Known for his ability to control the game and his range of passing, the Spaniard was a crucial player for the Spanish giants before he moved to Bayern Munich in 2014.

8. Fernando Redondo

The Argentine midfielder spent six years at the Santiago Bernabeu, arriving from Tenerife in 1994. Redondo was also known as someone capable of controlling games from deep. He made 228 appearances for the Los Blancos, scoring five goals and providing 14 assists.

Redondo won five trophies at Real Madrid, including two UEFA Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles. He earned the nickname ‘El Principe’ at the club, which means ‘The Prince’.

7. Clarence Seedorf

Clarence Seedorf was another iconic player to have donned Real Madrid’s colors. The Netherlands international was blessed with strength and pace, which allowed him to operate as a box-to-box midfielder. He was excellent in running with the ball and also scoring from long range.

Seedorf made 159 appearances for the club, scoring 20 goals and providing 35 assists, after arriving from Sampdoria in 1996. He won one Champions League and one La Liga, among other honors, before leaving in 2000.

6. Raymond Kopa

Raymond Kopa joined Los Blancos from Stade Reims in 1956 and made 101 appearances, scoring 30 goals, in his three-year stay at the club. He won three European Champion Club’s Cup winner (Champions League), among other honors.

Kopa was likened to the great Napolean due to his French connection, and short stature but dominant nature on the pitch. He was a great dribbler and one of the pioneers of the great Real Madrid teams of the late 1950s.

5. Toni Kroos

Real Madrid signed Toni Kroos for a mere €25 million from Bayern Munich in 2014. It’s one of the biggest bargains in football history given what he achieved with the Spanish giants. Kroos made 465 appearances, scoring 28 goals and providing 99 assists. He helped them win five Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles, among numerous other honors.

Kroos was known for his ability to control games like no other player. His passing accuracy never dropped below 92% overall and this included his long balls, through balls and line-breaking passes in the final third. The German was a unique profile and he retired on a high in 2024.

4. Ignacio Zoco

Ignacio Zoco was one of the most influential players for the Merengues following the departures of the likes of Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas. He was known for his leadership, aerial ability, and dominance on the pitch.

Zoco made 383 appearances for the club, registering 14 goals and one assist. He won seven La Liga titles, among other honors, during his 12-year stay.

3. Jose Pirri

Jose Pirri spent 16 years at the Santiago Bernabeu after arriving from Granada in 1964. He won 10 La Liga titles, one Champions League trophy, and four Copa del Reys.

Pirri was really versatile and while his primary role was a midfielder, he could play in attack as well as in defence. He made 511 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 156 goals and contributing four assists.

Also Read: Top 10 Greatest Spanish Midfielders of All-time

2. Luka Modric

The Croatian legend joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 for €35 million. He was named the Worst signing of the season at that time by a magazine. However, he put all of that aside and has now become a club and football legend.

Luka Modric is the most decorated player in Los Blancos history with 26 trophies, tied with Nacho Fernandez. He could be alone at the top next season and also become the oldest player to represent the club. He has made 534 appearances for the club, scoring 39 goals and providing 86 assists.

Modric has won six Champions League trophies, among numerous other honors. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 2018.

1. Zinedine Zidane

The greatest Real Madrid midfielder and arguably the greatest midfielder of all time is certainly Zinedine Zidane. Known for his magical touches and smooth skills on the football pitch along with his competitiveness and grit, the Frenchman was a joy to watch.

He joined Los Blancos from Juventus in 2001 and helped them win the Champions League in his first season. Who can forget his left-footed volley in the final against Bayer Leverkusen? Zidane made 227 appearances for the club, scoring 47 goals and providing 68 assists. He won numerous trophies before retiring at the club in 2006.

FAQs

Q. Who is the best Real Madrid midfielder of all time?

A. Zinedine Zidane.

Q. Who is the best midfielder in La Liga history?

A. Zinedine Zidane. Notable mentions to Luka Modric, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez.

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