Ranking the 5 greatest Spanish players in Real Madrid history

Real Madrid were home to many great Spanish players in football history. They are arguably the most decorated club in football and have won the Champions League a record thirteen times and have also been a powerhouse in Spain throughout their history.

The club's status has helped them attract various talented footballers from all across the world and ply their trade in the Whites of Real Madrid. The likes of Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos have all been a part of success at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Many great Spanish players have played for Real Madrid

But alongside these global superstars, Real Madrid are also home to Spanish players who have gone on to become legends at the club and in the country.

Although there are many Spanish players who have played a huge part in the clubs' history, we have picked and ranked 5 such players who we think are the greatest to have ever played for Real Madrid.

#5 Jose Antonio Camacho

Camacho was one of the best Spanish players in the 1980s

There are many great defensive players who are forgotten about as the time passes by. But Jose Antonio Camacho would not be one of those forgotten defenders. Camacho is considered by many as one of the greatest Spanish players of all time and was among the most important players of the late 70s and through the 80s for Real Madrid.

During his 15 years at the capital club, Camacho played more than 500 matches for Real Madrid, winning 19 major titles including nine Liga titles and two European Cups.

His control and composure on the field was impeccable. He received only one red card throughout his career. He also showed great control over the ball and possessed unbelievable fitness.

Camacho did not have much success with the Spanish national team, but at club level his Real Madrid team was one of the best to ever step on the pitch for the club.

#4 Fernando Hierro

Hierro was one of the most versatile Spanish players in the club's history

Fernando Hierro, one of the most versatile players, began as a midfielder but ended up being one of the best Spanish players in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football when he shifted to defense.

He was very reliable in the air with great anticipation and positioning and stood out for the power with which he could strike the ball, which was key to him scoring 127 goals during his Real Madrid career.

A footballer with the technical ability to play out from the back, Hierro spent 14 years at Real Madrid, winning several major honors, including three European clubs and two Intercontinental clubs. Together with Sanchis, Hierro formed an exceptional defensive duo, equipped with power and excellent technical abilities.

Hierro left Real Madrid in 2003 and joined Qatari team Al-Rayyan. He then signed for Bolton Wanderers before announcing his retirement from professional football in 2005.

#3 Iker Casillas

Casillas is one of the few Spanish players to win it all throughout his career

Iker Casillas is one of the few Spanish players who has won it all throughout his career. He is arguably the best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football.

Casillas joined Real Madrid's academy when he was just 9 years of age and subsequently rose through the ranks. He made his first-team debut in 1999 and went on to play in 725 official games, winning 19 titles. He was the captain of both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, who won the World Cup and two European Championships.

His greatest accomplishment was winning the World Cup in which he conceded just two goals in the entire tournament and kept clean sheets during the entire knockout stages of the World Cup.

Casillas left Real Madrid in 2015 for Porto and spent 5 seasons at the club before retiring in 2020 due to health issues.

#2 Raul Gonzalez

Apart from being one of the best Spanish players in the history of Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, Raul Gonzalez is arguably one of the greatest footballers to have ever played the game.

Raul joined Real Madrid's academy in 1994 from Atletico Madrid's club youth system after it was shut down by then president Jesus Gil due to poor finances. Little did he know that Raul would go on to sign with cross-town rivals Real Madrid and become one of the best Spanish players ever.

Raul spent 16 years at the club, scoring 324 goals in 741 games for the club, becoming the club's all-time record goalscorer and appearance maker before he was surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo on the goal front.

Along with his prolific goalscoring, Raul also had excellent technical skills and clever off-the-ball movement to draw out opposition defenders and create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.

Raul had many accomplishments throughout his career and some of the major ones among these were six La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies.

#1 Sergio Ramos

Not many Spanish players have a trophy cabinet like Sergio Ramos

Hero of La Decima and captain of the Real Madrid side that lifted three successive Champions League titles, Sergio Ramos is one of the best Spanish players in Real Madrid's history.

Ramos joined Madrid in the summer of 2005 and has since gone on to play 16 seasons at the club, making 671 appearances and becoming the club's fourth-highest all-time appearance maker. He also found the net an incredible 101 times, a truly amazing figure for a defender.

Although he is infamous for being the player with the most send-offs, Ramos played a key part in Real Madrid's defense during his time at the club. He was renowned for his tackling ability, aerial prowess, eye for goals and set-piece ability.

Not many Spanish players have a trophy cabinet like Sergio Ramos has. He won 22 titles at the club, including five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues. He also won two European Championships and the World Cup with the Spanish national team.

Ramos left Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 after failing to agree a new contract with the La Liga giants.