'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#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.
Trending
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.
