Football
Top 10 all-time scorers in Real Madrid history
The list takes us across various decades into the long and illustrious history of the Los Blancos
Image Credits: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
Real Madrid are one of the biggest and most followed clubs around the globe Arguably, Real Madrid are the greatest European team of all time. The Lo Blancos have won a record 15 UEFA Champions League titles, 36 Spanish top-flight titles, 20 Spanish Cups and 13 Spanish Super Cups alongside plenty of other trophies both domestically and globally.
Real Madrid were named the ‘Best Club of the 20th Century’ by FIFA in 2000. Some of the best and most iconic players in history have featured for the Los Blancos. From Alfredo Di Stefano to Emilio Butragueno to Raul Gonzalez to Cristiano Ronaldo the club has always had a star man leading the line scoring goals week in and week out.
Join us as we take a look at the top 10 all-time top scorers in Real Madrid history:
List of Top 10 Real Madrid All-Time Scorers
List of Top 10 Real Madrid All-Time Scorers
| Rank | Player | Goals | Matches |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 450 | 438 |
| 2 | Karim Benzema | 354 | 648 |
| 3 | Raul Gonzalez | 323 | 741 |
| 4 | Alfredo Di Stefano | 308 | 396 |
| 5 | Carlos Santillana | 290 | 645 |
| 6 | Ferenc Puskas | 242 | 262 |
| 7 | Hugo Sanchez | 208 | 282 |
| 8 | Francisco 'Paco' Gento | 182 | 600 |
| 9 | Pirri | 172 | 561 |
| 10 | Emilio Butragueno | 171 | 463 |
10. Emilio Butragueno
Appearances: 463
Goals: 171
Image Credits: @nostalgiafutbo1 (X Account)
Starting off the list of Real Madrid’s all-time top score is Spanish legend Emilio Butragueno. Butragueno scored a total of 171 goals for Real Madrid in 463 appearances. During his time in the Spanish capital six top-flight titles, two Copa del Rey titles, four Supercopa de Espana crowns, two UEFA Europa League trophies and other cup titles.
9. Pirri
Appearances: 561
Goals:172
José Martnez Sánchez joined Real Madrid in 1964 from Granada. Pirri started his career as a midfielder but even featured as a make-shift striker and defender at times. Whatever position he featured in on the pitch, Pirri had natural goalscoring instincts and netted a total of 171 goals in 561 appearances for the Los Blancos.
After a successful 16-year spell with the club, José Martnez Sánchez decided to join Mexico's Puebla FC in 1890. But just two years later he returned to the club and joined the side’s medical staff and later the coaching staff.
8. Francisco 'Paco' Gento
Appearances: 600
Goals: 182
Francisco 'Paco' Gento primarily featured on the left wing for the Los Blancos. Gento was a part of the legendary Real Madrid team that lifted five successive European Cups. During his 18-year stay at the club, the club lifted 12 La Liga titles and plenty of other cup triumphs.
Gento was widely regarded as the best left-winger of his time and one of the best ever in Real Madrid’s illustrious history. He made a total of 600 appearances for the club, scoring an impressive 182 goals in the process.
7. Hugo Sanchez
Appearances: 282
Goals: 208
Image Credits: @Marshal5Mac (X Account)
The Mexican star Hugo Sanchez is one of the most prolific strikers ever from South America. Sanchez also famously played for both the top clubs in Madrid and joined Real Madrid from direct rivals Atletico Madrid.
Sanchez enjoyed huge success with the Los Blancos, winning five consecutive League titles, the UEFA Cup and plenty of other cup trophies. Sanchez scored an impressive 208 goals in just 282 appearances for Los Blancos.
6. Ferenc Puskas
Appearances: 262
Goals: 242
Ferenc Puskas is one of the most iconic names associated with Real Madrid. The Hungarian striker is regarded as one of the best players ever to grace the beautiful game. Puskas was the star man and the leading talisman for the Madrid squad that won five successive European Cups.
The Hungarian legend scored a total of 242 goals in 262 appearances for the Los Blancos.
5. Carlos Santillana
Appearances: 645
Goals: 290
Carlos Santillana joined Real Madrid at the age of 19 in 1971, he went on to make a total of 645 appearances for the club. Santillana won an impressive 16 trophies while leading the line for the Los Blancos, scoring 290 goals in total, 186 of those coming in the La Liga.
Santillana earned 56 caps for his national side Spain and participated in two FIFA World Cups (Argentina in 1978 and Spain in 1982).
4. Alfredo Di Stefano
Appearances: 396
Goals: 308
Image Credits: @realmadriden (X Account)
Alfredo Di Stefano is one of the greatest footballers in history, let alone just Real Madrid’s history. Interestingly, when the forward was at River Plate both Barcelona and Real were after his signature. Lo Blancos won the race and the rest is history.
Di Stefano scored 308 goals for the Los Blancos and is 4th on the all-time list of Real Madrid’s top scorers.
Alfredo Di Stefano won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in 1957 and 1959. He is the only footballer ever to be awarded the Super Ballon d’Or trophy, which today can be found in the Real Madrid museum. Later on in his career, he returned to the club for two spells as the manager, winning the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona during his second spell after taking over in November 1990 from John Toshack.
3. Raul Gonzalez
Appearances: 741
Goals: 323
Raul was born in Madrid in 1977 and he went to spend nearly his entire career with Real Madrid. Raul Gonzalez is the 3rd all-time top scorer in Real Madrid history. Nicknamed the ‘Eternal Captain’ Raul scored a total of 323 goals for the Los Blancos in 741 appearances.
Raul made his UEFA Champions League debut at the age of 18 and he went on to win three Champions League titles alongside six LaLiga titles and plenty of other cup trophies, He is also 6th on the list all time LaLiga top scorers list, with 228 goals.
2. Karim Benzema
Appearances: 648
Goals: 354
Image Credits: @Benzema (X Account)
Benzema is one of many Ballon d’Or winners on the list of Real Madrid’s all-time top scorers. The French striker joined the 15-time Champions League winners in 2009. For most of his career in the Spanish capital, he featured on the side cast for Cristiano Ronaldo. But after Ronaldo’s transfer to Juventus in 2018, Benzema rose and played the best football in his entire career,
By the end of Benzema’s time with the Los Blancos, he equalled Marcelo’s record as the most successful player in Real Madrid history (25 trophies). He also returned to his national team and won the UEFA Nations League 2020-21 with France,
Benzema left Real Madrid in the summer of 2023, joining Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad on a bumper contract,
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Appearances: 438
Goals: 450
Image Credits: Sky Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers of all time. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009 for a then world record £80 million. Ronaldo helped Real Madrid rise back to the top of the ladder of European football and become an unbeatable force again.
Ronaldo recorded a club record 450 goals in just 468 matches for the Los Blancos. He is the only player on the list to have a positive goals-to-game ratio. Ronaldo won four UCL titles, two La Liga titles, three Club World Cups and UEFA Super Cups apiece and other cup trophies with Real Madrid.
He ended his career 2nd in the all-time top scorers list in La Liga (311 goals and 292 matches). No football fan can forget Ronaldo’s historic rivalry with Lionel Messi when both the superstars were playing in the Spanish top flight.
FAQs
The title of the most successful Real Madrid player of all time is shared by Marcelo and Karim Benzema. Both the former Los Blancos captains won an impressive 25 trophies during their time at the club.
The ‘Eternal Captain’ Raul holds the record for the most appearances in Real Madrid’s history, making a total of 741 appearances. The legendary Spanish goalkeeper claims second in this particular list with 725 appearances.
The most successful Real Madrid manager of all time is Miguel Muñoz, who won nine La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, two European Cup titles and one Intercontinental Cup during his legendary 15-year reign as manager from 1960 to 1974.
With over a decade of experience in sports writing, Hardik Malhotra has built a distinguished career in the internet industry. His expertise spans across various domains including Art Direction, Web Content Writing, and Content Management, all underscored by a high degree of initiative. Hardik’s passion for sports is reflected in his professional journey and personal interests.