Feel free to add commentary or just post a formation. Also can include a bench. Only rule is that it must be based on their form whilst at Real Madrid. Someone like Kaka for example probably won't make your list. Courtois Carvajal Hierro Ramos Marcelo Casemiro Modric Bale James Ronaldo Benzema I started seriously watching Real Madrid around 2003, so my list is based on players I've seen around then. With that said, a lot of the players are from the current generation which is more than fair as it's the greatest squad since the initial Champions League era when Real Madrid won the first 5 trophies. A few call outs from me. I've never felt so reassured with a goalkeeper and that's why Courtois is on the list. I was a big Navas fan, but will get nervous with corners etc. Not with Courtois. Bale obviously didn't have the best end to his career here, but at his best, he was the best bar Ronaldo and Messi. Also, his Champions League and Copa goals were significant. James. That first season when he got like 15 goals and 15 assists, I've longed for an AM with that output ever since. Pretty much just the one season, but don't remember an attacking midfielder being as good as that season since I started watching Real Madrid. Benzema. Admittedly, never was his biggest fan up until recently. However, the performance last season alone pretty much puts him on this list. Not so much the volume of goals AND assist, but the significance of a lot of them.
Started watching RM since 2002. Picking from the players I've watched. Iker Casillas Carvajal Ramos Pepe Roberto Carlos Modric Casemiro Zidane Kroos Ronaldo Benzema
I started watching Real Madrid after that Champions League win where Zidane scored. After that, I think it was one league title and 3 trophyless seasons. The best of saw of James was better than the best I saw of Zidane (at Real Madrid).
Same for me. Only toss up for me is Casillas vs Courtois, Iker was phenomenal but Courtois’ height reassures (and form outside his first year) me when watching the team. Also Roberto Carlos vs Marcelo. Perhaps Carlos because of his longevity, but what Marcelo was doing in his prime years was just a pisstake, insane player totally insane.
It's absurd. "best I've seen" doesn't count when you can go back and watch most of Zidane's best appearances and games from back then.
Been following Madrid since around 1998. Best whilst I’ve been watching (having regard to balance of team, otherwise eg I’d put Redondo ahead of Makelele). Ronaldo - Ronaldo - Figo Zidane - Makelele - Modric Marcelo - Ramos - Pepe - Carvajal Courtois
------------Iker----------- Dani-----Ramos---Pepe----Roberto Carlos Modric-------Casemiro------Kroos Figo-------Benzema-----CR7 Roberto Carlos and Marcelo were close. Roberto Carlos was a better defender. When Roberto Carlos lost his man, he could run back 10 to 15 yards with just a flash and stole the ball with a slide tackle. His free kicks were overrated in a sense he did not score much, but he had scored some amazing goals and he had too many "how did he do it" moments. I have Modric over Zidane. It was either Xabi Alonso or Kroos. Modric and Casemiro elevated Kroos' game. i have seen a better side of him a lot more than Xabi Alonso. Bale played some great games, but Figo was very consistent in an era when everyone played poorly. I never really liked Di Maria. He had one good season here. Ronaldo 9 was brilliant for about two seasons. He actually scored a few solo goals in his first seasons that CR7 or anybody could not do. Benzema of course was sub-par for many seasons, but he made it up in the last few seasons. He also carried the team many times.
Been watching Madrid since 2005/2006 Iker Dani-Pepe-Ramos-Marcelo Modric-Casemiro-Kroos-Zidane Ronaldo-Benzema
------------------Keylor Navas---------------- Carvajal-----Pepe-------Sergio Ramos-----Roberto Carlos Modric------Casemiro------Zidane-----Cristiano ------------Benzema--------Ronaldo---------- Went with a 4-4-2 to fit both Ronaldos and Benzema. Peak for peak Roberto Carlos in my opinion was better than Marcelo, and Keylor is my all time favorite goalkeeper with his keeping style and was in goal for the CL threepeat. I'd go a step further and line up the WOAT Madrid team in my lifetime (since early 2000s) ---------------------Adan---------------------- Faubert----Pavon-----Samuel-----Raul Bravo Pablo Garcia------Emerson-------Drenthe Portillo------------Anelka---------Adebayor
Good shout on the WOAT. Would replace Pavon with Woodgate and Adebayor and Anelka with Jovic and Cassano.
My WOAT All-Time team ----------------Adan------ Diogo--Metzelder----Woodgate-----Drenthe --------Luis Silba----P.Garcia------ Faubet-----------------------Hazard ------Saviola------Jovic---------
Damn good WOAT list too. Forgot about Diogo and Metzelder, those two were absolute bums. Saviola is also a good call, but he was supposed to be just a body on the bench anyway. I picked Anelka because there was a huge fee and expectations from him. Nobody expected Jovic to be a Balon Dor player here, but Anelka was really touted at that point. Cassano was also a low risk high reward kinda signing, didn't turn out right but at least hes a fun guy. Adebayor is just a c*nt. I also hated Soldado, Sergio Canales and Raul Albiol. But I strongly disagree with including players who did not succeed due to injury, like Hazard and Woodgate. Its not their fault, when they played, they were good. Surprised no one mentioned Gravesen so far lol. He was hilarious, but in his first half season here he really stabilized the midfield.
For me since 03/04 Gk: Courtois Lb: Marcelo Cb: Ramos Cb: Pepe Rb: Carvajal Dm: Casemiro Cm: Modric Cm: Kroos Lw Cristiano Rw Bale Cf Benzema My favorite 11 would be Gk: Iker Lb: Marcelo Cb: Ramos and Pepe Rb: Salgado Dm: Casemiro Cm: Guti Cm: Zidane Lw Vini Rw: Figo Cf Ronaldo
You assholes going all negative get this WOAT shit out of here. Anyways, since the ‘90s, admittedly a little offense minded here… Iker Carvajal, Hierro, Ramos (c), R. Carlos Figo, Redondo, Modric, Zidane Benzema, Cristiano
We forgot about Sahin and the other Turk. I forgot his name. The WOAT is more fun. I will do a famous WOAT.... great players elsewhere, but sucked here.
Finally someone included my boy Redondo <3 Courtois Carvajal Pepe Hierro (C) R.Carlos Redondo Modrič Zidane Figo Benzema Cristiano
---------------Casillas---------------- Carvajal--Hierro--Ramos (C)--R.Carlos -----Redondo----Modric------------ ---Raul---Di Stefano---Ronaldo---- ---------------Puskas------------------- B-team: ---------------Courtois---------------- Chendo-Sanchis (C)-Santamaria-Marcelo -----Casemiro----Kroos------------ ---Figo------Zidane------Gento---- ---------------Benzema-------------------
Just think about how many times Benzema appears on our lists, and how many times it would’ve been the case ~3 years ago. Incredible.
Best Ever(supposedly as didn't watch all) GK: Iker RB: Carvajal LB: Carlos CB: Ramos CB: Santamaria CM: Modric CM: Zidane LW: Gento RW: Cristiano CF: De Stefano CF: Puskas Positions not mentioned: DM: talent Redondo, club servant Casemiro Others: R9, Raul, RVN, Nueve, Ozil..... too many to mention Best I have watched(my first Madrid game was 2002 final with my father, Zidane got me hooked for the last 20 years) GK: Iker RB: Carvajal LB: Marcelo CB: Ramos CB: Varane DM: Casemiro CM: Modric CM: Zidane CF: Benzema CF: Ronaldo CF: Cristiano Again Figo, RVN.... too many to mention
Altintop lol. He didn't underperform though, he was just out of his depth, kind of like Pablo Garca but playing a lot less. Sahin for me comes in that 'not his fault' group with Hazard and Woodgate. Of course its more fun, but negativity here is the boogeyman, it really derails the virtual utopia I think Kaka must take #1 in that category. Yes he was injured, but he also played a lot and was notably below his Milan level.
I don’t understand some people’s expectations when it comes to worst players. We made money off Altintop and he provided depth and didn’t play badly when called on. It’s like Owen. That’s a perfect depth signing imo.
Altintop was a useful squad player. He could play in multi-positions. He was a free transfer and could provide cover for so many positions.