Top 5 Atlético Madrid academy graduates

#2 Fernando Torres

Singapore v Liverpool FC

Torres in his prime was one of the best, if not, the best striker in the world at the time. He had excellent technical ability, pace, and the vision to find himself in space in the opposition box. Torres was a world-class striker with exceptional finishing ability. However, several injuries and loss of form in his later seasons went a long way in hurting his reputation.

Torres inherited his love for Atlético from his grandfather, and he joined his first club Parque, aged just 5. Torres started his career as a goalkeeper, but at 7, he was already playing as a striker in an indoor league for a neighborhood club named Mario's Holland. Three years later, he joined an 11-a-side team Rayo 13. Torres joined Atlético after impressing at Rayo 13 scoring 55 goals in his only season at the club.

Nicknamed 'El niño' by the Spanish fans, Torres played an important part in Spain's World Cup win in 2010. He also won two successive European Cups with Spain in 2008 and 2012. Along with Atlético, He played for some of England's biggest clubs in Liverpool and Chelsea.

In his best years, Torres was just phenomenal. As a player, he won a World Cup, two European Cups, one Champions League with Chelsea, one Europa League and an FA Cup in England.

#1 Raúl González

Real Madrid CF v Real Sporting de Gijon - La Liga

This is just irony at its best that one of Real Madrid's greatest ever player is a former Atlético Madrid youth product. Unfortunately for Atlético Raúl was a part of the setup when then Atlético president Jesús Gil decided to close the club's academy setup for cost-saving measures. The immediate aftereffects saw the player join Atlético's bitter crosstown rivals Real Madrid.

Raul was a prolific goalscorer and a highly creative forward. The left-footed forward was one of the best strikers of his generation.

At Real Madrid, he wore the iconic No7 jersey and went on to score 323 goals, and become Real's all-time top goalscorer, a record which was later broken by Cristiano Ronaldo. Raúl literally went on to become an all-time great at Real Madrid. During his playing days, he also captained Real Madrid and Spain and was known as 'El Capitan'( The Captain).

In a truly exceptional career with Real Madrid, he won 6 La Liga titles, four Supercopa de España, three Champions League titles, one UEFA Super Cup, two Intercontinental Cups.

Cristiano Ronaldo broke Raul's goalscoring record at Real.