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Real Madrid are one of the greatest clubs in world football. Their unparalleled success in football history remains unmatched.
Over the years, Real Madrid have been dominating the Spanish top flight. They have won 34 La Liga titles, among other notable trophies. But what truly makes them great is their record haul of 13 European cups.
Los Blancos' obsession with success on the biggest stages is still prevalent and remains a decisive factor in their greatness.
With such a rich history and football heritage, Real Madrid have had the privilege of witnessing some of the greatest creative footballers of the modern era feature at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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On that note, let us take a look at
Real Madrid's 5 most creative players of the 21st century.
Special mentions: Toni Kroos, Guti, Karim Benzema, Raul, Kaka and Angel Di Maria.
#5 David Beckham
David Beckham was one of Florentino Perez's most famous Galactico signings when he arrived from Manchester United in 2003. Although the Galactico era was not as successful as Perez would have hoped for, Real Madrid played euphoric football. Beckham was at the center of attraction and an extremely valuable piece, both on and off the pitch.
Beckham was an obvious creative outlet, decisive both with his set-pieces and his final through balls. His key passes were good enough to pierce through any defense and ultimately create a goal. The legendary midfielder's crosses were excellent too, often finding the target man inside the box.
During his four-year tenure at the club, Beckham scored 20 goals and provided 51 assists.
#4 Luis Figo
The signing of Luis Figo from arch-rivals Barcelona was one of the most controversial moments in the two clubs' rivalry. The Portuguese was one of the greatest wingers of his generation, winning his one and only Ballon d'Or shortly after his move to Real Madrid.
Figo was a terrific dribbler, taking on defenders and beating them with relative ease. Operating from the flanks, Figo's dribbling helped him cut inside, beat defenders and create space for his teammates. In addition to his dribbling, the Portuguese legend knew how to feed his teammates with superb passes and crosses.
Figo went on to score 56 goals and provide 93 assists during his tenure at Real Madrid, helping the club win two La Ligas and one Champions League.
#3 Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil arrived at Real Madrid when rivals Barcelona were at their peak. The attacking midfielder's arrival helped Los Blancos get back on their feet as he had a huge impact under Jose Mourinho's tutelage.
Ozil helped Real Madrid win a domestic double at the end of 2011/22 - winning the league with a record number of goals scored.
Ozil seamlessly fit into Mourinho's counter-attacking style of football, forging a bond with Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch. He had a magical left foot, which he used to provide amazing passes. Being mercurial in the final third, the German wizard had little difficulty in creating chances.
During his three year tenure at the Spanish capital, Ozil racked up 27 goals and 80 assists. In this brief period of time, only a few footballers on the planet created more chances than Ozil.
#2 Zinedine Zidane
One of the greatest players of all time, Zinedine Zidane was a 'Galactico' in its truest sense. Before he succeeded at Real Madrid as a manager, Zidane won the hearts of Los Blancos' fans with his grace on the pitch. His stunning volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final remains a fond memory among Madridistas across the globe.
Zidane personified creativity with his elegance on the ball, dislodging defenses at will. It is still a mystery how he eluded defenders with such ease, just gliding past one opponent after the other with magic feet. With a unique mixture of supreme tactical intelligence and technique, the French genius' vision was extraterrestrial to say the least.
Zidane bagged 49 goals and provided 68 assists for Real Madrid but he is not a footballer who can be judged by mere statistics.
#1 Luka Modric
Real Madrid's chief orchestrator in recent times has taken our No. 1 spot. Luka Modric has done more for Los Blancos' success in the last decade than any other midfielder.
The Croatian magician helped the club win three consecutive Champions League titles, among other notable accolades. Due to his exploits, Modric broke the monopoly of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d'Or in 2018.
Despite not getting any younger, Modric remains an integral part of Real Madrid with his caliber. Everything flows through the Croatian maestro as he acts as a connection between the team's defense and attack.
Due to his impressive passing range and vision, Modric dictates the tempo of the match. The midfielder operates as a deep-lying playmaker and creates space with his movements, intelligence and passes. He is not just any creator but one who controls how Real Madrid perform on the pitch.
Modric made 400th appearances for the club a few days ago, and has bagged 28 goals and 63 assists so far for them. There is a significant chance he can add a few more honors to his name with Los Blancos.
