The El Clasico match is widely considered to be the most significant game in global football. It features two of the most prominent teams in Spain who fiercely compete against each other. Although it may not have the same level of star players as before, the Barcelona vs Real Madrid match continues to be the largest event in Spanish football. In this article, we talk about the combined best XI to feature in the 21st century.
Best El Clasico XI of the 21st century:
GK: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
The La Masia graduate will go down as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his era, captaining Real Madrid as well as Spain. Casillas‘ inclusion in the lineup can be somewhat unanimous considering the sheer quality he possessed.
LB: Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid)
The Brazilian will easily go down as one of the best left-backs to ever play the game. With a wand of a left foot, Roberto Carlos will always be remembered for his thunderous free-kick goal against Barcelona in El Clasico.
CB: Carlos Puyol (Barcelona)
A leader like no other, Puyol captained Barcelona’s most successful spell and was one of the best central defenders that the team has ever seen. What he didn’t possess in physicality, he made up for in sheer willpower.
CB: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
It is difficult to think of a defender as synonymous with Real Madrid as Sergio Ramos in the last few decades. The Real Madrid skipper was the focus of a number of big El Clasico moments and will be extremely difficult to replace for Los Blancos.
RB: Dani Alves (Barcelona)
Having returned to the team for a second spell, Dani Alves is Barcelona’s greatest right-back of the 21st century. The Brazilian is unrivalled going forward and is still putting in the shifts despite being well past his mid-30s.
CM: Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)
Zidane will always be in the discussion of the best midfielders to ever play football. The Frenchman is an undisputed Real Madrid legend for his Champions League three-peat and walks into the midfield of this line-up.
CM: Ronaldinho (Barcelona)
There will probably never be another player who can dribble the ball like Ronaldinho. There was something magical about the Brazilian dancing with the ball at his feet, and backing it up with important goals when his team needed it.
CM: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Iniesta’s inclusion ahead of Xavi is a difficult one given the sheer quality that both of these players possess. But, the former Barcelona captain makes the line-up ahead of his midfield partner. Iniesta made 38 Clasico appearances and scored three goals while providing six assists in the fixture.
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 18 goals against Barcelona and scored seven goals in six consecutive Clasico appearances. The highest-ever goalscorer for Real Madrid will also go down as a legend of El Clasico for ages.
RW: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Messi is unsurprisingly the highest goalscorer in El Clasico history with 26 goals. He is tied with Sergio Ramos for the most appearances in the fixture as well, with 45 appearances to his name against Los Blancos.
ST: Ronaldo Nazário (Real Madrid)
Despite not being able to lift the Champions League trophy, R9 won the Ballon d’Or and is still hailed as one of the best strikers in the history of European football.
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