# Revealed: Best El Clasico XI of the 21st century URL: https://technosports.co.in/best-el-clasico-xi-of-the-21st-cent/ Published: 2024-12-02 Updated: 2024-12-02 Author: Arsh Das The [El Clasico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_El_Cl%C3%A1sico_matches)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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Cl%C3%A1sico) 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) ** ![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/download-2-1.jpg) ***Iker Casillas*** The [La Masia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Masia) graduate will go down as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his era, captaining [Real Madrid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Madrid_CF) as well as Spain. [Casillas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iker_Casillas)‘ inclusion in the lineup can be somewhat unanimous considering the sheer quality he possessed.  ## **LB: Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid) ** ![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/M4G6JQ2SMFM7VK2V6Z5RRR3RYI-956x1024.webp) *FILE PHOTO: Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos, [who plays for Spain’s team Real Madrid,] poses prior to a 2006 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Brazil September 4, 2005. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes/File Photo; **Roberto Carlos*** 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Carlos) will always be remembered for his thunderous free-kick goal against Barcelona in [El Clasico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Cl%C3%A1sico).  ## **CB: Carlos Puyol (Barcelona)** ![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/carles-puyol-1410853025-2696-jpg.webp) ***Carlos Puyol*** A leader like no other, [Puyol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carles_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)** ![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1699387209032_fb0501e2-ffbc-4f54-b9ec-6d49c997af17-1024x576.webp) ***Sergio Ramos**; Via beIN SPORTS* It is difficult to think of a defender as synonymous with [Real Madrid](https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US) as [Sergio Ramos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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)** ![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-1353801496-1024x683.webp) ***Dani Alves*** Having [returned to the team for a second spell](https://technosports.co.in/2021/11/15/dani-alves-completes-barcelona-medical-becomes-the-lowest-paid-player-in-the-squad/), [Dani Alves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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)** ![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Zinedine-Zidane-ball-final-World-Cup-Italy-2006-877x1024.webp) ***Zinedine Zidane*** [Zidane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinedine_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)** ![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/p06myg5y-1024x576.jpg) ***Ronaldinho*** There will probably never be another player who can dribble the ball like [Ronaldinho](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/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)** ![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Andres-Iniesta-FC-Barcelona-1-715x1024.webp) ***Andres Iniesta*** Iniesta’s inclusion ahead of [Xavi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/700803/the-magic-of-iniesta-in-the-clasico) and scored three goals while providing six assists in the fixture.  ## **LW: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)** > 📅 May 6, 2018 > > Messi and Ronaldo both scored their last El Clasico goals. A fitting end to two equally amazing journeys ❤️ [pic.twitter.com/amYl82xZ1i](https://t.co/amYl82xZ1i) > > — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) [August 5, 2021](https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1423373250726334468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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)** https://twitter.com/cr7dotcom/status/1452136533318832129?s=20&t=h8AvQ36hyGo2vfmx0WFkfg [Messi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi) is unsurprisingly the highest goalscorer in El Clasico history with 26 goals. He is tied with[Sergio Ramos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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) ** ![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/c22b7e19c63728d4d34aa46c31609bbf61490cc0.jpg-1024x576.webp) Despite not being able to lift the Champions League trophy, [R9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronaldo_(Brazilian_footballer)) won the Ballon d’Or and is still hailed as one of the best strikers in the history of European football. ***FAQ*** Read more: [Top 5 Players with Most Hat-Tricks of All-Time](https://technosports.co.in/top-5-players-with-most-hat-tricks/)