With Cristiano Ronaldo becoming Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer, UEFA.com profiles the Portugal forward alongside Raúl González and Alfredo Di Stéfano, the men he has overtaken
After Cristiano Ronaldo became the top scorer in Real Madrid’s history, UEFA.com profiles the Merengues’ most profilic forwards.
“Having him on the pitch is like having a 1-0 head start,” Carlo Ancelotti said of the Portuguese. The Italian coach certainly knew how to get the best out of Ronaldo, who netted 112 times for Madrid in the two campaigns they spent together.
His 48 goals last term were a personal best, bagging him a third European Golden Shoe. He has proved no less ruthless this season, smashing five past Espanyol in September. Madrid have had their fair share of talismanic strikers down the years, but Ronaldo is by far the most lethal.
“One of our own has reached a horizon that seemed impossible,” said Merengues president Florentino Pérez. “Since arriving in 2009 his dedication and commitment have always been beyond doubt. His stats have surpassed all the great Real Madrid players, his name is already a legend at Real Madrid.”
Raúl González, 323 goals in 741 games
The boyhood Atlético Madrid fan who became a Real Madrid great. When the Rojiblancos cut their youth set-up for financial reasons, their loss was Real’s gain. His first senior goal came in a derby, as the 17-year-old quickly developed into a Madrid hero and natural successor to Emiliano Butragueño.
He and Madrid lifted the Liga title at the end of that first, 1994/95 campaign, the first of six league triumphs accompanied by three UEFA Champions League wins – the No7 scoring in the 2000 and 2002 final victories. Raúl played alongside Ronaldo, Davor Šuker, Predrag Mijatović, Michael Owen, Fernando Morientes and Ruud van Nistelrooy, outlasting them all.
On 15 February 2009, he broke Alfredo Di Stéfano’s goal record against Sporting Gijón. Raúl also overtook Manolo Sanchís as the club’s all-time appearance maker before departing in 2010. “Being at Real Madrid was the best dream I could ever have imagined having,” he said, shedding a tear as he bid farewell. Having moved on to Schalke, Al-Sadd and New York Cosmos, he announced his retirement this week.
Alfredo Di Stéfano, 307 goals in 393 games
“Alfredo Di Stéfano is Real Madrid. His alliance with this club changed its destiny,” said Florentino Pérez. The Merengues won a tug of war with Barcelona to land Di Stéfano in 1953 and their efforts were rewarded. The Blond Arrow took little time illuminating Europe, 27 goals in his first term firing Madrid to a first Spanish championship in 21 years. It was just the beginning.
Di Stéfano racked up 307 goals in his 11 seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu, claiming eight Liga titles and one Spanish Cup. If the Argentinian was the Blancos’ first superstar, the newly conceived European Cup was his stage. Di Stéfano scored in each of the first five victorious finals, including a hat-trick in the 7-3 success over Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960.
Barcelona and Internazionale Milano coach Helenio Herrera summed him up: “He was, simultaneously, the anchor in defence, the playmaker in midfield, and the most dangerous marksman in attack. If Pelé was the lead violinist, Di Stéfano was the entire orchestra.”
Ronaldo v Di Stéfano
Real Madrid’s top ten scorers
Cristiano Ronaldo, 324 goals in 310 games
Raúl González, 323 goals in 741 games
Alfredo Di Stéfano, 307 goals in 393 games
Carlos Santillana 289 goals in 645 games
Ferenc Puskás 242 goals in 262 games
Hugo Sánchez 208 goals in 282 games
Francisco Gento 179 goals in 599 games
José Pirri 171 goals in 561 games
Emilio Butragueño 171 goals in 463 games
Amancio Amaro 155 goals in 471 games
