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Real Madrid have been a powerhouse in world football over the past century, playing host to some of the best managers and footballers in history. Los Blancos are received the prestigious "Club of the Century" award and continue to be a force to be reckoned with in world football. They have the distinction of winning the highest number of European Cups (13) and the most La Liga trophies (34), eight more than arch-rivals Barcelona.
Being one of the biggest clubs in European football, Real Madrid are one of the toughest teams to come up against. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane formed an almost impenetrable defensive partnership in recent years, following in the footsteps of several Real Madrid greats. The two players left the club earlier this summer, but over the years, a handful of players have produced memorable performances against the La Liga giants, domestically as well as in Europe.
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Today, we take a look at the five players who have tormented Real Madrid the most.
#5 Xavi
La Masia graduate Xavi Hernandez is one of the greatest midfielders to have graced the beautiful game.
Alongside Iniesta, Xavi was an indispensable component of Barcelona and Spain's "tiki-taka" football. The Spaniard had the rare ability to control and dictate play in the middle of the park and was highly regarded for his immaculate vision and exquisite touch.
Xavi would count Real Madrid among his favorite opponents to face off against. The now-41-year old registered 42 appearances in the El Clasico - with 17 wins and 12 draws under his belt. The four-time Champions League winner has been one of Real Madrid's worst nightmares over the years, as he was directly involved in 15 goals (5 goals, 10 assists) in those 42 appearances.
Stats won't do justice to Xavi's immense contribution in these matches and across the entirety of his Barcelona career. Xavi is also joint-third in the list of all-time El Clasico appearances.
#4 Samuel Eto'o
Despite his public fallout with Pep Guardiola in his time at Barcelona, Samuel Eto'o was at his explosive best against Real Madrid's Galacticos.
The three-time Champions League winner is one of the few players to have donned the colors of both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Eto'o joined Real Madrid's youth setup in 1996, but a lack of playing time in the senior team saw him move to his first Catalonian club, Espanyol, during a loan spell.
However, the Cameroonian would make his first appearance against Real Madrid in the 2000/01 campaign when he took the field for Mallorca. In 12 appearances against Los Blancos for the Mallorca side, Eto'o notched up seven goals and three assists.
Samuel Eto'o would also make eight El Clasico appearances for Blaugrana, where he registered an impressive tally of four goals and two assists.
#3 Ronaldinho
The Brazilian is one of the greatest footballers of his generation and some of his best performances have come against El Clasico rivals Real Madrid.
Ronaldinho was one of the few opposition players to have received a standing ovation from the Santiago Bernabeu crowd. This was following a masterclass against Real Madrid in the 2005-06 La Liga season, where the Brazilian magician scored two jaw-dropping solo goals.
Ronaldinho was a joy to behold at his best and won multiple titles during his five-year Spanish adventure. The now-41-year-old featured eight times against Real Madrid in a Barcelona shirt, providing a return of five goals and three assists.
The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner also faced Real Madrid in the Champions League for AC Milan on four occasions. Ronaldinho scored the equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Los Blancos in the group stages of the 2009-10 edition.
#2 Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez has been a thorn in the flesh of Los Blancos ever since his arrival to the Spanish shores ahead of the 2014-15 season.
The Uruguayan is one of the finest goalscorers of his generation and among the all-time greats in El Clasico history. Suarez is Barcelona’s third-highest goalscorer in El Clasico fixtures, with 11 goals and three assists from just 15 appearances.
One of his most memorable El Clasico performances came about in the 2018-19 La Liga season. Suarez single-handedly dominated Real Madrid, scoring a hat-trick in Barcelona’s 5-1 victory.
The Atletico Madrid forward also faced Real Madrid twice in the recently-concluded 2020-21 La Liga season for his new club. Suarez scored the 15th-minute opener in the derby to secure a 1-1 draw for the reigning Spanish champions.
However, the 34-year-old’s first appearance against Los Blancos was in the 2010-11 Champions League group stages, when he captained Ajax in a 4-0 defeat.
#1 Lionel Messi
The Argentine wizard is the record goalscorer in El Clasico history and is unlikely to be surpassed anytime in the near future.
Lionel Messi has proven his big-match pedigree time and time again in football’s biggest rivalry, scoring the first hat-trick of his professional career against Real Madrid. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner showcased one of El Clasico’s best individual performances in the 2006-07 La Liga season, scoring three crucial goals in a 3-3 draw.
In 45 appearances against Los Merengues’ across all competitions, Messi has notched up a stellar tally of 26 goals and 14 assists. He is the joint-record holder of most appearances in El Clasico history (45), along with Sergio Ramos.
La Pulga recently parted ways with his boyhood club in a heartbreaking goodbye, but the Real Madrid defenders would certainly be happy to see the back of Lionel Messi. The Argentine has contributed to over 10% of goals in Barcelona’s history.
