The ultimate fantasy El Clasico sees Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho vs Raul, and many more…
The highly anticipated El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona is right around the corner, with two of the best teams in the world set to collide. They have both boasted ownership of some of the greatest footballers ever to have played the game, but in a fantasy ultimate El Clasico XI, which side would win?
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Here are the greatest possible starting XIs for both sides made up of the best Real Madrid and Barcelona players of all time, according to the Daily Mail:
GK) Iker Casillas – Real Madrid
He may be fading somewhat now, but for well over a decade the Spaniard has been an ever present for both Real and Spain. Made his debut at 18 and never looked back.
GK) Andoni Zubizarreta – Barcelona
Spain’s national goalkeeper before Casillas took over, Zibizarreta made over 400 appearances for the Catalan club and was a dominant force between the sticks.
RB) Chendo – Real Madrid
Miguel Porlan Noguera (Chendo) made 363 appearances in his 16 year spell with Real Madrid. He won five successive La Liga championships and seven in total.
RB) Carlos Puyol – Barcelona
Playing nearly 600 games for Barcelona, Puyol was the long serving captain of the club for many years.
CB) Jose Santamaria – Real Madrid
Splitting his career between Nacional and Real Madrid, the Uruguayan was a stalwart in defence for the Spanish giants.
CB) Miguel Angel Nadal – Barcelona
A superb defender, Nadal was not only able to dominate attackers, he was also a creative spark and capable of initiating attacks from the back.
CB) Fernando Hierro – Real Madrid
A man of many talents, Hierro was equally adept at playing in defence or in the centre of midfield. He combined excellent defensive stability with fantastic attacking nous, as well as possessing a real eye for goal. He scored well over a century of goals for the club during his lengthy spell there.
CB) Migueli – Barcelona
Well over 600 appearances for the club, Migueli was at the club for a massive 20 years. Known as a real hard man in football.
LB) Jose Antonio Camacho – Real Madrid
Winning seven La Liga titles as well as a European cup in his sixteen years at the Bernabeu, Camacho is a fan favourite in the Spanish capital.
LB) Sergi – Barcelona
A player ahead of his time somewhat, Sergi was not only a superb defender but also fantastic going forward.
CM) Zinedine Zidane – Real Madrid
Arguably one of the best players of all time, Zidane would stroll into any world class team. Most remembered for his unbelievable volley in Real Madrid’s Champions League final win in 2002, and unfortunately also for his headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup.
CM) Pep Guardiola – Barcelona
As a manager he reads the game perfectly, something he did equally well as a player. Ever reliable in midfield, he was the ideal anchorman for Barcelona.
CM) Alfredo Di Stefano – Real Madrid
A complete footballer, Di Stefano was not only one of the best playmakers in the world, but also possessed a fantastic scoring ability. With a record of 216 goals in 282 La Liga appearances, very few have surpassed him.
CAM) Diego Maradona – Barcelona
Only at Barcelona for two seasons, the fact that Maradona was one of the greatest footballers of all time means he cannot be left off the list. Most remembered for his “hand of god”, he had an impressive record in La Liga during his short spell.
RW) Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid
Another player who could go down as the greatest of all time, Ronaldo is certainly one of the greatest players in the game today. His unbelievable goalscoring record for Madrid has seen him obliterate a number of records, and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
RW) Lionel Messi – Barcelona
Locked in a fierce battle with Cristiano Ronaldo for the title of best player alive today, Messi is a magician on the ball. His mazy runs and tricky feet make him unplayable at times, and while he may not be the complete footballer that Ronaldo is, he is certainly one of the greatest of all time.
LW) Francisco Gento – Real Madrid
A devastating winger, Gento is the only man to have won six European Cups and 12 La Liga titles. A superb scoring record from the wing, he spent nearly two decades at Real.
LW) – Johan Cruyff – Barcelona
A genius both on and off the pitch, Cruyff did wonders for Barcelona both as a player and as a manager. A revolutionary footballer, the Dutchman was hands down one of the best that ever lived.
ST) Raul – Real Madrid
Holder of a number of records at the Bernabeu, Raul is the all time high scorer at the club with 323 goals in 741 games. He won six La Liga titles and three Champions League titles during his 16 seasons.
ST) Laslo Kubala – Barcelona
Scoring nearly 200 goals for the club in relatively few appearances, Kubala was the original free kick master.
ST) Ferenc Puskas – Real Madrid
With a record of almost a goal a game, the Hungarian was absolutely deadly in the box. He is the only player ever to score hat-tricks in two Eurpean Cup finals, a feat that may never be repeated.
ST) Ronaldinho – Barcelona
The Brazilian was an unbelievable talent for a short while. His skill with the ball, incredible vision, and sublime touch unrivalled at the time. He faded almost as quickly as he emerged, but during his time at Barcelona he was truly one of the all time greats.