Welcome to our guide to Real Madrid. This article is packed with information on the Spanish giants, including club honours, squad, records and rivalries. Read on to discover everything you to need to know about Real Madrid.
Explore Our Football Betting Sites
Real Madrid Logo & History
Real Madrid Logo & HistoryReal Madrid was formed in 1902 and have established themselves as the most successful club, not just in Spain, but also in Europe and the world as a whole. Known as ‘Los Blancos’, the club have won their domestic league more than any other team. Real Madrid have also been crowned as champions of Europe and the world, more often than any other club.
Originally titled ‘Madrid Football Club’, King Alfonso XIII bestowed the honorific title ‘Real’ in 1920, along with the crown emblem that is on the club logo. ‘Real’ translates as ‘Royal’ in Spanish. They have since become one of the biggest La Liga teams in the country.
Real Madrid Kit
As mentioned earlier, Real are known as ‘Los Blancos’, which translates as ‘the whites’. This refers to their all-white kit. Another nickname referring to this kit is ‘Los Merengues” (The Meringues).
Though details of the design can vary from season to season, Real Madrid always wear a kit of white shirts, shorts and socks. Real Madrid away colours can change from season to season, but the traditional colours are all-blue or all-purple. With the club a massive worldwide brand, Real Madrid kits sell in their millions each season.
Club Honours
- La Liga / Spanish Football Championship – 35 times: 1931–32, 1932–33, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22
- Copa del Rey – 19 times: 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1917, 1934, 1936, 1946, 1947, 1961–62, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1988–89, 1992–93, 2010–11, 2013–14
- Supercopa de Espana – 12 times: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2017, 2019-20, 2021-22
- UEFA Champions League / European Cup – 14 times: 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1965–66, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22
- UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup – 2 times: 1985-85, 1985-86
- UEFA Super Cup / European Super Cup – 5 times: 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
- Intercontinental Cup – 3 times: 1960, 1998, 2002
- FIFA Club World Cup – 4 times: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
Real Madrid are not just the most successful club in Spain, but have also set records in European competition and in those involving clubs from the rest of the world. Madrid have won the European Cup / Champions League on 14 occasions.
This includes five consecutive European Cup wins between 1956 and 1960. Real Madrid Champions League victories have been commonplace in recent years, with the club winning four of the five editions between 2014 and 2018.
Their most recent victory and Champions League title came in the 2021-22 season. Real Madrid are also the club with the most FIFA Club World Cup wins, having been crowned champions on four occasions.
Latest Real Madrid Betting Odds
Real Madrid are typically amongst the favourites in La Liga betting each season and to win every trophy they compete for. Here are their current odds.
| Competition | Best Real Madrid Odds | Bookmaker |
| La Liga | 8/15 | Betfred |
| Copa del Rey | 5/2 | Betway |
| Champions League | 6/1 | bet365 |
Real Madrid Squad
Some of the greatest footballers to have played the game, have done so wearing the white of Real Madrid. Going back to the fifties and sixties, the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas were amongst the star players for the team.
In the nineties the tradition of Real Madrid Galacticos took hold. The club paid huge sums to bring star players like David Beckham, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane to the Bernabeu. In more recent years that tradition continued with the club paying world record fees for Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
That’s not to say that Madrid have not been adept at bringing through young players and signing local talent. Spanish legends include players such as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Raul, Fernando Hierro and Manuel Sanchis, who were all Real Madrid captain.
Real Madrid Goalkeeper Options
There have been some great goalies at the club, with Iker Casillas being the most notable, with over 700 appearances. The current Real Madrid goalkeeper situation looks like this:
- 1. Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
- 13. Andriy Lunin (Ukraine)
- 26. Luis Lopez (Spain)
Real Madrid Defenders
You might recall star attackers when you think of Real Madrid, but any great team is built on their defence and this club has been no exception. Los Blancos have had legendary defenders such as Jose Camacho, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro, Sergio Ramos and Manouel “Manolo” Sanchis. Here are their current options in defensive positions:
- 2. Dani Carvajal (Spain)
- 3. Eder Militao (Brazil)
- 4. David Alaba (Austria)
- 5. Jesus Vallejo (Spain)
- 6. Nacho (Spain)
- 16. Alvaro Odriozola (Spain)
- 22. Antonio Rudiger (Germany)
- 23. Ferland Mendy (France)
Real Madrid Midfielders
Some magnificent midfielders have graced the Bernabeu. Elite midfielders include Xabi Alonso, David Beckham, Guti, Claude Makelele, Michel, Pirri and Zinedine Zidane. Below are Real Madrid’s current midfielders:
- 8. Toni Kroos (Germany)
- 10. Luka Modric (Croatia)
- 12. Eduardo Camavinga (France)
- 14. Casemiro (Brazil)
- 15. Federico Valverde (Uruguay)
- 17. Lucas Vazquez (Spain)
- 18. Aurelien Tchouameni (France)
- 19. Dani Ceballos (Spain)
Real Madrid Forwards
Perhaps the most glamorous positions in a team are that of striker and wingers, so it’s no surprise that a club like Real Madrid have had some fantastic forwards.
They include Gareth Bale, Emilio Butragueno, Alfredo Di Stefano, Luis Figo, Francisco Gento, Gonzalo Higuain, Fernando Morientes, Ferenc Puskas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Hugo Sanchez, Santillana, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ivan Zamorano. These are the current batch of forwards at Real Madrid scoring goals:
- 7. Eden Hazard (Belgium)
- 9. Karim Benzema (France)
- 11. Marco Asensio (Spain)
- 20. Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
- 21. Rodrygo (Brazil)
- 24. Mariano Diaz (Dominican Republic)
Real Madrid Players with Most Appearances
Keeping your place in a team as successful and competitive as Real Madrid’s is a big achievement. So the players who are able to rack up hundreds of appearances for the club, really deserve to be described as Real Madrid legends. Here are the players who have made the most appearances for Real Madrid.
| Rank | Player Name | Years | La Liga Games | Copa del Rey Matches | European Games | Other Matches | Total |
| 1 | Raul | 1994-2010 | 550 | 37 | 132 | 22 | 741 |
| 2 | Iker Casillas | 1999-2015 | 510 | 40 | 152 | 23 | 725 |
| 3 | Manuel Sanchis | 1983-2001 | 523 | 67 | 99 | 21 | 710 |
| 4 | Sergio Ramos | 2005-2021 | 469 | 48 | 129 | 25 | 671 |
| 5 | Santillana | 1971-1988 | 461 | 84 | 87 | 13 | 645 |
| 6 | Karim Benzema | 2009-Present | 415 | 44 | 123 | 24 | 606 |
| 7 | Fernando Hierro | 1989-2003 | 439 | 43 | 103 | 16 | 601 |
| 7 | Francisco Gento | 1953-1971 | 428 | 74 | 95 | 4 | 601 |
| 9 | Jose Camacho | 1973-1989 | 414 | 61 | 90 | 12 | 577 |
| 10 | Pirri | 1964-1980 | 417 | 67 | 75 | 2 | 561 |
Real Madrid All Time Top Scorers
This list of Real Madrid top scorers features some of the deadliest finishers to have ever played football. Leading the way is Cristiano Ronaldo with an incredible 450 goals for the club. Will his total ever be beaten?
| Rank | Player Name | Years | La Liga Goals | Copa del Rey Goals | European Goals | Goals in Other Matches | Total |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 2009-2018 | 311 | 22 | 105 | 12 | 450 |
| 2 | Karim Benzema | 2009-Present | 219 | 21 | 74 | 10 | 324 |
| 3 | Raul | 1994-2010 | 228 | 18 | 66 | 11 | 323 |
| 4 | Alfredo Di Stefano | 1953-1964 | 216 | 40 | 49 | 3 | 308 |
| 5 | Santillana | 1971-1988 | 186 | 49 | 47 | 8 | 290 |
| 6 | Ferenc Puskas | 1958-1966 | 156 | 49 | 35 | 2 | 242 |
| 7 | Hugo Sanchez | 1985-1992 | 164 | 19 | 23 | 2 | 208 |
| 8 | Francisco Gento | 1952-1970 | 126 | 22 | 30 | 4 | 182 |
| 9 | Pirri | 1964-1979 | 123 | 25 | 23 | 1 | 172 |
| 10 | Emilio Butragueno | 1983-1995 | 123 | 16 | 27 | 5 | 171 |
Biggest Real Madrid Transfers & Signings
Real Madrid have long been one of the richest clubs in football. For many years they pursued a ‘Galactico’ policy of signing the biggest names in each transfer window, with players such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo helping to bring in huge commercial revenues.
Club’s 10 Most Expensive Signings
Real Madrid have broken the world record for a transfer fee on a number of occasions. Here are Real Madrid’s most expensive signings.
| Rank | Player Name | Year Signed | Club Signed From | Reported Fee |
| 1 | Eden Hazard | 2019 | Chelsea | €100,000,000 (£89,000,000) |
| 2 | Gareth Bale | 2013 | Tottenham Hotspur | €100,000,000 (£86,000,000) |
| 3 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 2009 | Manchester United | €96,000,000 |
| 4 | Aurelien Tchouameni | 2022 | Monaco | €80,000,000 |
| 5 | Zinedine Zidane | 2001 | Juventus | €76,000,000 |
| 6 | James Rodriguez | 2014 | Monaco | €75,000,000 |
| 7 | Kaka | 2009 | AC Milan | €67,000,000 |
| 8 | Luis Figo | 2000 | Barcelona | €62,000,000 |
| 9 | Luka Jovic | 2019 | Eintracht Frankfurt | €60,000,000 |
| 10 | Eder Militao | 2019 | Porto | €50.000,000 |
Club’s 10 Most Expensive Sales
Even a club as rich as Real Madrid needs to balance the books. Here are the Real Madrid team sales that brought in the most income.
| Rank | Player Name | Year Sold | Club Sold To | Reported Fee |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 2018 | Juventus | €117,000,000 |
| 2 | Angel Di Maria | 2014 | Manchester United | €75,600,000 |
| 3 | Alvaro Morata | 2017 | Chelsea | €65,500,000 |
| 4 | Mesut Ozil | 2013 | Arsenal | €50,000,000 |
| 5 | Mateo Kovacic | 2019 | Chelsea | €45,000,000 |
| 6 | Robinho | 2008 | Manchester City | €42,000,000 |
| 7 | Achraf Hakimi | 2020 | Inter Milan | €41,000,000 |
| 8 | Gonzalo Higuain | 2013 | Napoli | €40,000,000 (£34,500,000) |
| 9 | Raphael Varane | 2021 | Manchester United | €40,000,000 (£34,000,000) |
| 10 | Martin Odegaard | 2021 | Arsenal | €35,000,000 |
Real Madrid Manager List
There’s no warmer hot seat in football than at Real Madrid. It’s fair to say that Real Madrid news is very often dominated by discussion on the future of the manager and who might replace him.
Failure is not tolerated and consequently some managers have had some very short spells in charge of the club. Those that have had lengthy spells as Real Madrid head coach, are amongst the most successful tacticians in the game. Here’s the full list of Real Madrid managers:
Real Madrid Stadium
Home Real Madrid fixtures are played at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid moved to the stadium in 1947 and the latest renovation started in 2020.
It has a current capacity of 81,044, which will rise to over 85,000 once improvements are completed. The stadium is named after the former Real Madrid president Santiago Bernabeu, who also played for and managed the club.
Real Madrid Rivalries
There are certain teams where positive Real Madrid results count for a little extra. Los Blancos have many fierce rivalries with other clubs and in this section we will go through some of them.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid – El Clasico
There is no bigger game in world football than Real Madrid vs Barcelona. The fixture is known as El Clasico, which means ‘The Classic’ in English. This is Spanish football’s most intense rivalry.
Real and FC Barcelona are the two biggest clubs in Spain and have battled each other for domestic trophies for decades. In recent years, the two teams have also met in the Champions League. Here is the breakdown of their results.
| Number of El Clasico Matches | Real Madrid Wins | Barcelona Wins | Draws |
| 283 | 104 | 117 | 62 |
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid – the Madrid Derby
Real Madrid’s other big domestic rivals are Atletico Madrid. With the two clubs both hailing from the Spanish capital, their fans live in close proximity.
It’s Real Madrid that have generally been the more successful club over the years, though Atletico have enjoyed plenty of moments of glory in their history, especially in recent seasons under Diego Simeone.
The Madrid derby has even been played in European finals, with Real beating Atletico in the Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016, while Atletico beat Real in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup. Here is the breakdown of their results.
| Number of Madrid Derby Matches | Real Madrid Wins | Atletico Madrid Wins | Draws |
| 229 | 113 | 57 | 59 |
Liverpool vs Real Madrid
If Real Madrid are the most successful club in European competition, then one of the chasing pack is Liverpool. No other team throughout the entire continent can come close to Real Madrid’s 14 European Cup / Champions League wins, but Liverpool have lifted the trophy on six occasions. The clubs have met on three occasions in the final of the competition.
Liverpool beat Real to be crowned European champions in 1981, but Madrid have taken revenge in recent years, beating Liverpool in the 2018 and 2022 finals. These recent encounters have firmly secured Real Madrid vs Liverpool as one of the biggest rivalries in European football.
Man City vs Real Madrid
Before beating Liverpool in the final of the 2022 Champions League final, Real Madrid knocked out some of the biggest clubs in European football, in the preceding rounds. Many of these games saw Real Madrid score crucial late goals. Manchester City of the Premier League were their semi-final opponents and the teams produced two stunning matches. These games had everything.
It was Manchester City that won the first-leg 4-3 at home and then looked to be heading for victory when they were 1-0 up at the Bernabeu going into the closing moments of the game.
Real pulled off an improbable comeback when they scored in the 90th and 91st minutes of the game, to send the match into extra time, with a 95th minute penalty sealing victory.
With the Spanish club being the essence of traditional football royalty and the English team having the money to match them, the emerging Real Madrid vs Man City rivalry looks likely to run and run.
Real Madrid vs Chelsea
The quarter-finals of the 2021-22 Champions League saw Real Madrid take on the Blues. It was Real that took the initiative with a 3-1 away win in the first leg, before Chelsea forced the game into extra time when they took a 2-0 lead in the reverse fixture.
Madrid rallied to get the goals they needed to progress, losing 3-2 on the night, but winning 5-4 on aggregate. It was the first time that the Chelsea vs Real Madrid fixture was seen in the Champions League, but it’s unlikely to be the last. Like Manchester City, Chelsea have the money to challenge an established club like Real Madrid.
PSG v Real Madrid
When it comes to clubs flexing newfound financial muscle, few can compete with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The French club have signed some big names in recent years, including the former Barcelona forward and long-time Real Madrid adversary Lionel Messi.
Real Madrid vs PSG has been seen in the Champions League a few times in recent years, with the latest meeting coming in the last 16 of the 2021-22 season. PSG won the home leg 1-0 and went 1-0 up at the Bernabeu, but Real fought back to win 3-2 on aggregate.
