Real Madrid is one of the best soccer clubs in the world, based in Spain and known as “The Whites” because of their white uniforms. The club has a remarkable history, winning 34 La Liga championships, 19 Copa del Rey trophies, 11 Supercopa de España titles, 13 UEFA Champions League titles, and 4 FIFA Club World Cup titles. Over the years, many great players have played for Real Madrid in different positions. Among them, the top 5 midfielders of Real Madrid have made significant contributions to the team’s success and are celebrated for their skills and achievements.
Here are the top 5 midfielders of Real Madrid :
5. David Beckham
David Beckham was a natural leader and a key player at all the clubs he played for. The English midfielder was known for his amazing skill with the ball, especially in dead ball situations like free kicks, as well as his strong work ethic and willingness to make sacrifices for the team.
After a successful career at Manchester United, Beckham joined Real Madrid with high expectations. The club had signed one of the most famous figures in football. Beckham quickly won the hearts of the fans at the Bernabéu Stadium, and soon after joining, he won his first trophy with the club, the Spanish Super Cup.
Beckham’s best moments and greatest success at Real Madrid came in his final season. He played a key role in a thrilling race to win the 2007 La Liga title. Beckham left Real Madrid having scored 20 goals in 158 games, leaving a lasting legacy at the club.
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4. Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso from Spain is one of the greatest midfielders in Real Madrid’s history. In 2009, he left Liverpool and joined Real Madrid for £30 million.
Steven Gerrard once said, “After our first training session together in August 2004, it was clear Alonso was exceptional. He was the best central midfielder I had ever played with. If I were to become the manager of Liverpool one day, I’d want Xabi Alonso or Jamie Carragher as my assistant.”
During his six years at Real Madrid, Alonso won one La Liga title, two Copa del Rey titles, one Supercopa de España title, and one UEFA Champions League title. He played 236 games and scored six goals for the club. Alonso joined Real Madrid alongside Ronaldo and Kaka.
Jose Mourinho praised him, saying, “Xabi Alonso is like a metronome, a player like Xavi Hernández. I’m sure he will be a great coach when he retires. He reminds me of Pep Guardiola when he was a player: he already acts like a coach on the field.”
In 2014, Alonso left Real Madrid for Bayern Munich. He retired in 2017 and is now a coach with Real Sociedad B.
3. Toni Kross
At 17, the German teenager Toni Kroos made his debut for Bayern Munich. He then went on loan to Bayer Leverkusen before returning to Bayern Munich after 18 months. Regarded as one of Real Madrid’s finest ever, he joined the club in 2014 for €30 million. Kroos mentioned, “Individually, the Spanish league outperforms the German league. However, German teams are more aggressive than Spanish ones, making them tougher to play against.”
Toni Kroos, a tall midfielder, has won La Liga twice, the Supercopa de España twice, three UEFA Champions League titles, the UEFA Super Cup twice, and the FIFA Club World Cup four times. Joachim Low praised him, saying, “Toni’s distribution and reception of the ball are excellent. He’s a technical wizard… He has improved in recent matches, and I am quite pleased with him.” The 30-year-old midfielder, considered one of Real Madrid’s all-time greats, scored 19 goals in 284 games for the club.
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2. Luca Modric
Luka Modric is definitely one of the top Real Madrid midfielders of all time. Often compared to the great Johan Cruyff, Modric left Tottenham in 2012 to join Real Madrid for £30 million, making him one of the highest-paid players at the time.
In his first season at Real Madrid, which was also Jose Mourinho’s last season as manager, Modric mostly sat on the bench. However, when Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti took over, Modric’s career took off. He became one of the finest midfielders in Real Madrid’s history. Modric once said, “When I first started playing football, all I wanted to do was play for a great club like Real Madrid. It is maybe the most famous and greatest club in football history.”
1. Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane, a French soccer icon, is known as one of Real Madrid’s greatest midfielders. Nicknamed Zizou, he joined Juventus in 1996 and won the Serie A title twice with them. Edgar Davids, his former teammate, praised him, saying, “He creates space where none existed before and can handle the ball no matter how it comes to him. His creativity and technique are amazing.” After five seasons with Juventus, Zidane joined Real Madrid in 2001 for €75 million. Michel Platini also praised him, saying, “Technically, he is the best at controlling and passing the ball.” With Real Madrid, Zidane won the La Liga championship once, the Supercopa de España twice, the UEFA Champions League once, the UEFA Super Cup once, and the Intercontinental Cup once. Alfredo Di Stefano admired Zidane’s playing style, saying, “He dominates the ball, is a spectacle to watch, and plays as if he had silk gloves on his feet. He makes going to the stadium worthwhile.”
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