10 greatest players in the history of El Clasico

#8 Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona)

Puyol was always at his best against Real Madrid

Puyol made his name as a no-nonsense defender who combined his astute game sense with an aggressive style of play.

Naturally, the centre-back was a leader for Barcelona and his leadership skills were best seen against their bitter rivals.

Making over 30 appearances in El Clasico, Puyol always made a telling contribution. He rallied his troops whenever needed and was the player that maintained the calmness that was required in this hotly contested affair.

In many occasions, it was seen that Puyol was at the forefront of diffusing potential ugly scenes on the field.