In Spain, Rodrygo awoke as a great hero. The Brazilian striker achieved the (nearly) unthinkable by scoring two goals in stoppage time to send the Champions League semifinal against Manchester City to extra time.
The striker, who was instrumental in Real Madrid’s qualification for the final, is yet another Brazilian to create history in the merengue jersey. Other players from the nation have made their impact on Madrid in the past.
With that in mind, how about we commemorate the finest Brazilians that ever represented Real Madrid? Let’s have a look at them!
Roberto Carlos
The list begins with one of football’s all-time great left-backs. Roberto Carlos joined Real Madrid in 1996 as a move from Inter Milan, and he went on to have an 11-year career there.
He competes with Karim Benzema for the title of best foreigner at Real with 527 official games and 11 trophies won, and he joins the top of the table for his undeniable skill, as well as his more than a decade as a starter.
Marcelo
Roberto Carlos was replaced by another Brazilian, who maintained his Real Madrid heritage. Marcelo departed Fluminense at the age of 18 and has since established himself as a fan favourite and one of the finest in his position.
With Real Madrid, he has won 24 trophies in all, including six La Liga titles, four Champions League crowns, and four more international titles. He also took on the captain’s armband and became a character in the cast.
In 2021, he overtook his compatriot and predecessor in the merengue club’s official match rating. He is now in a race to reach 550 games, second only to Karim Benzema in history among foreigners.
Ronaldo
Even though it’s remarkable that a player of Ronaldo’s level isn’t the best of all time, the striker didn’t shine as brightly at Real Madrid as he did elsewhere. Regardless, he was a member of the “Galacticos” period and had several noteworthy bouts.
The Phenomenon scored a hat-trick in the centre of Old Trafford for the Champions League in 2002/2003, to the delight of the spectators. There were 104 goals scored in 177 games while wearing the team’s jersey, which are impressive stats for the famed Brazilian striker.
Casemiro
Casemiro, like Marcelo, is still playing for Real Madrid, but he has already established himself as one of the greatest Brazilians of all time.
He was hired in 2013 while playing for Sao Paulo and went through Team B before spending a season on loan at Porto in 2014/2015. When Zidane joined at the club and elevated the midfielder to the starting lineup, his struggles to remain in the starting lineup ended.
Since then, he has played a key role in Real Madrid’s success and, with Kroos and Modric, has established himself as one of the most reputable midfielders in the world. He has played a total of about 300 games, with the number projected to rise in the next years.
Sávio
Sávio piqued Real Madrid’s attention after being revealed by Flamengo, and he was recruited in 1998. He was a key member of the squad that won the Champions League in the same year for four seasons. The title ended a 32-year club tradition.
He would win the title twice more as a left winger before being loaned out to Bordeaux in 2002. In all, he appeared in 160 games and scored 30 goals, including several starts in the late 1990s.
The list is likely to alter in the following years. The most important is the possibility of Vinicius Junior joining Real Madrid’s attack, where he has erupted this season and formed a dangerous partnership with Karim Benzema.
So, do you believe Vini Malvadeza has the potential to be one of the biggest?
