Revealed: Cristiano Ronaldo leads way in star-studded Real Madrid team of the decade
Continuing our countdown towards 2020 with the team of the decade from some of Europe's biggest clubs, it's time to turn our attentions to the most successful in European history: Real Madrid.
Los Blancos have won the European trophy 13 times, with four of those coming since the turn of 2010. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo for the most part, Madrid have enjoyed unrivalled success on the continent and have also picked up two league titles in that time.
As is the case with all of our team of the decades, players must have made at least 70 appearances for the club across the league and Europe's elite competition since 2010 to be eligible for selection.
Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas (143 apps) - 6.89 rating
Iker Casillas will go down as an all-time Real Madrid legend but Keylor Navas was part of an illustrious period of the club's history this decade. He wasn't perhaps the complete package Madrid would usually stick by, but Navas won the Champions League three times in a row. He averaged more saves per game (2.8) than Casillas (2.4) across the two tournaments this decade.
Right-back: Dani Carvajal (221 apps / 15 goals) - 7.18 rating
Dani Carvajal is the lowest rated outfielder in Madrid's team of the decade but is by no means a weak link. The Spain international has been Madrid's first-choice left-back ever since returning to Madrid from a one-year stint at Bayer Leverkusen in 2013. Carvajal averages 1.4 key passes per 90 minutes for Madrid over the two tournaments and 2.5 tackles per 90.
Centre-back: Sergio Ramos (382 apps / 53 goals) - 7.28 rating
He massively divides opinion among football supporters but there can be no denying what a brilliant footballer and leader Sergio Ramos has been. He has also developed into a remarkable goalscorer for Real Madrid, averaging a goal every seven matches across league and European competition. Incredibly, only four players have scored more goals than Ramos for Madrid since 2010.
Centre-back: Pepe (231 apps / 13 goals) - 7.20 rating
Was part of a formidable centre-back pairing with Sergio Ramos for most of the early part of the decade before being eased out of the team by Raphael Varane. Despite being known for a lack of temperment, Pepe surprisingly was only sent off three times in 231 appearances across the two competitions, one fewer than Gareth Bale has managed. An underated aspect of Pepe's game was his ability to read danger, illustrated by 2.3 interceptions per 90 for Madrid this decade.
Left-back: Marcelo (359 apps / 28 goals) -7.34 rating
A tough few years will not mask what a tremendous player Marcelo has been for Real Madrid, particularly this decade. Marcelo was arguably the best left-back in the world for a lot of the last 10 years, particularly going forward where he added a new dimension to Madrid's attack. Marcelo is only four goal involvements short of 100 goals and assists across the two competitions this decade, while the 31-year-old averages one every 305.4 minutes of playing time.
Central midfield: Toni Kroos (227 apps / 16 goals) - 7.37 rating
Toni Kroos must be delighted with his decision to turn down Manchester United for Real Madrid in the summer of 2014 after enjoying a superb five years with Los Blancos. The Germany international has won three European cups and LaLiga once in that time, averaging more passes per game than any other Madrid player (68.1).
Central midfield: Xabi Alonso (187 apps / 4 goals) - 7.40 rating
Xabi Alonso completes Madrid's double pivot alongside Kroos in what would have proved a dream parternship. Alonso went to Bayern Munich the same summer Madrid signed Kroos from the Bundesliga giants. Alonso registered 25 assists for Madrid from 2010 to 2014 and ranks behind Kroos for most passes per game (59.9) across the two tournaments. Best known for his ability to dictate play and range of passing, Alonso impressively also averged 5.9 tackles and interceptions combined per 90 minutes.
Right wing: Gareth Bale (218 apps / 96 goals) - 7.49 rating
Gareth Bale's time at Madrid is ending on a sour note but it should not overshadow what a great servant he has been for the Spanish side, helping them win major honours year after year since joining from Tottenham in 2013. Injuries have ruined his time at the club but he has still netted 96 goals in 218 appearances, with only two players scoring more for Madrid across the two tournaments this decade. Moreover, Bale averages a goal across both competitions every 164 minutes for Madrid.
Attacking midfield: Mesut Ozil (136 apps / 23 goals) - 7.39 rating
Cristiano Ronaldo was said to be disappointed with Madrid's decision to sell Mesut Ozil, as the German was so good at creating goalscoring opportunities for him. Ozil registered 61 assists in 136 appearances for Madrid across the two competitions, at an average of one every 158.3 minutes of playing time. Moreover, Ozil created a goalscoring opportunity every 22.8 minutes of action - a better return than any player at the club this decade.
Left wing: Cristiano Ronaldo (381 apps / 403 goals) - 8.17 rating
Cristiano Ronaldo evolved into one of the greatest players of all-time after joining Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009. beforing leaving in 2018. Ronaldo scored more goals in LaLiga and the Champions League combined (403 goals) than he made appearances (381) from the turn of 2010. Not only that, but Ronaldo has registered more assists (113) than any other Madrid player this decade and has picked up the WhoScored Man of the Match at least 82 more times than the next player (121). Combining Ronaldo's goals and assists, the Portugal international played a direct hand in a goal every 64.4 minutes of playing time.
Striker: Karim Benzema (409 apps / 206 goals) - 7.33 rating
Karim Benzema had to live in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo for most of the decade but now Real Madrid fans are starting to see the very best from Benzema as a pure goalscorer. Benzema has made more appearances across the two competitions than any other player for Madrid since 2010 and averages a goal every other game (0.5), which is impressive when you consider nine seasons were spent getting the best out of Ronaldo.
Notable omissions...
Luka Modric (7.23 rating) - The Croatian is the only player this decade that is not Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to be crowned the world's best player. However, his rating just falls short to make Madrid's midfield.
Casemiro (7.27 rating) - Impressively averages 6.3 tackles and interceptions combined per 90 minutes and has surprisingly scored 19 goals across both competitions.
Iker Casillas (6.75 rating) - His Madrid career ended on a sour note after falling out with then-manager Jose Mourinho but he averaged a clean sheet every 2.6 games across the two competitions this decade.
