Real Madrid have signed a quartet of players on the back of four out of the five World Cups that have been held over the last 22 years.

The Spanish giants broke their trend in 2018 when they made the uncustomary decision not to sign anyone in the summer transfer window that coincided with, and followed, France's World Cup triumph in Russia.

We've taken a closer look at the last four players who impressed at a World Cup before joining Real Madrid.

Ronaldo (2002)

Ronaldo missed Brazil's qualification campaign ahead of the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan – rupturing a cruciate ligament in his knee was an injury that left many doubting whether 'El Fenomeno' would ever return to the dazzling heights he had previously shown.

But he silenced any doubters and struck up a menacing partnership with Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. Ronaldo came away with the World Cup trophy and the Golden Boot in 2002 after scoring two goals against Germany in the final.

With the forward making a mockery of the world's best defenders, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez stumped up €45million to complete a deal with Inter Milan for a man who won his second Ballon d'Or at the end of that year.

After scoring on his debut at the start of the 2002-03 season, the Brazil international racked up a further 103 goals in the Spanish capital.

"I have never felt cherished at the Santiago Bernabeu and I don't get why. I have never been treated with love here," Ronaldo said during his five-year trophy-laden stay at Real before he returned to Italy with AC Milan.

Ronaldo's history of playing for Barcelona years prior may have been the reason why he didn't always receive the adulation his performances warranted.

Fabio Cannavaro (2006)

Cannavaro had just captained Italy to World Cup glory in Germany when Los Blancos repeated their transfer strategy of four years prior – signing a key player from the tournament's winning country.

At 32, Cannavaro was handed the No.5 shirt previously worn by club legend Zinedine Zidane after arriving from Juventus ahead of the 2006-07 campaign.

Like Ronaldo, the centre-back was awarded the Ballon d'Or – becoming one of three defenders in history to win the individual accolade alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer – in the same year he joined a team littered with world-class talent.

He amassed over 100 appearances during his three-season stint at Madrid, helping the club win two La Liga titles.

Mesut Ozil (2010)

Many of Europe's elite were vying for Ozil's signature following his wonderful World Cup campaign in South Africa. As a 21-year-old, he performed beyond his years and helped Joachim Low's team reach the semi-final stage.

It was Madrid who struck a bargain with Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen, signing Ozil for just €15million! The midfielder was initially expected to play second-fiddle to Kaka but soon became a regular starter under Jose Mourinho.

He made over 150 appearances for the club and was dubbed as an 'assist king' as his ability to execute a killer pass was unrivalled – Cristiano Ronaldo benefitted from his service no fewer than 27 times.

Ozil made the switch to Arsenal in 2013 after Angel Di Maria was seemingly favoured by Carlo Ancelotti. But what a time the Bernabeu fan-favourite had in Spain; he was at the peak of his powers in the famous white shirt.

James Rodriguez (2014)

Rodriguez was fast becoming one of Europe's emerging stars as he finished the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with six goals and two assists for Colombia – including one of the greatest goals in the competition's history against Uruguay.

Madrid swooped to secure the 2014 Golden Boot winner for a €90million fee, making him the fourth most-expensive signing of all time.

In his first season, Rodriguez accumulated 35 goal contributions as he struck up near-telepathic on-field relationships with Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

But the South American's impact soon dwindled, and he spent two years on loan at Bayern Munich before being sold to Everton in 2020.

The game between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad was stopped for a few minutes as Luka Modric was substituted in the second half.

Real Madrid players gave him a guard of honour while Toni Kroos and Carlo Ancelotti gave a special hug to Real Madrid's most decorated player ever. 

Read Also | Luka Modric to Depart Real Madrid After Club World Cup, Leaving Legacy as Club Legend

Modric will end his Real Madrid career with the FIFA Club World Cup and, till now, has won 28 trophies for the Los Blancos. 

Along with Modric, it was also Carlo Ancelotti's last home match for Real Madrid, as he will also be leaving Real Madrid at the end of this season. 

Real Madrid CF announced that their captain, Luka Modric, will conclude his illustrious tenure with the club following the Club World Cup, set to begin on June 18 in the United States. The Croatian midfielder, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the club’s history, will bid farewell after an extraordinary 13-year journey.

Since joining Real Madrid in 2012, Modric has been a cornerstone of one of the most triumphant eras in the club’s storied history.

Over his 13 seasons, he amassed an unparalleled 28 titles, including 6 European Cups, 6 Club World Cups, 5 European Super Cups, 4 LaLiga titles, 2 Copas del Rey, and 5 Spanish Super Cups.

His trophy cabinet makes him the player with the most titles in Real Madrid’s 123-year history, a record shared by only five players in football history who have won six European Cups.

Modric’s individual accolades are equally remarkable. In 2018, he claimed the Ballon d’Or, FIFA The Best Men’s Player, and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards.

He has been named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI six times and was recognised as the Champions League Best Midfielder twice. On the pitch for Real Madrid, Modric made 590 appearances, scoring 43 goals, and earned a Golden Ball and Silver Ball at the Club World Cup.

Internationally, Modric is Croatia’s record holder for appearances with 186 caps. His leadership guided Croatia to a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball, and a third-place finish in 2022, earning the Bronze Ball.

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez praised Modric’s impact, stating, “Luka Modric will forever remain in the hearts of all madridistas as a unique and exemplary footballer who has always embodied the values of Real Madrid. His football has captured the imagination of Madridismo and fans all over the world. His legacy will live on forever.”

El Clasico refers to a match between two of Spain's biggest teams, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The rivalry goes beyond the football field as Madrid, the capital of Spain and Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia's autonomous community, have shared their fair share of political tension over the years. 

Initially, the term was only used for the matches in the domestic Spanish championship, La Liga. Over the years, however, it's been globally recognised for every single meeting, such as in the UEFA Champions League or even domestic cup competitions like the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España.

With both teams boasting big budgets and reputations that appeal to world-class performers across the planet, their respective ranks have been loaded with match-winners over the years.

Read Also | Top 10 La Masia Graduates who ruled football

El Clasico: H-2-H breakdown of all statistics!

Here we have for you a breakdown of the games the two giants have played!

Most Appearances in El-Clasico

Former Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets has played 48 El-Clasico games, the most in the rivalry's history. Lionel Messi and Sergio Raoms follow him in the list with 45 El-Clasico games.

Most goals in El-Clasico

Former FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has scored the most goals in El-Clasico. Since making his first Clasico appearance in 2005, the Argentine legend has played a joint-record 45 matches against Madrid, scoring 26 goals. This includes two hat-tricks in 2007 and 2014.

Former Real Madrid forwards Alfredo Di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo share the second spot with 18 goals each.

El Clasico is one of football’s biggest rivalries, between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Over the years, they’ve played many exciting and emotional matches, full of great goals and big moments. With stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Roberto Carlos, these games are always packed with talent and drama.

10. Real Madrid 5-0 FC Barcelona, 1995

The Real Madrid vs. Barcelona match on January 7, 1995, at the Santiago Bernabeu was unforgettable. Zamorano netted a hat-trick, leading Real Madrid to a commanding 5-0 victory in this LaLiga clash. It was one of the most one-sided El Clasico matches ever, with the home team fully dominating Barcelona.

The match gave Real Madrid an edge in the title race for La Liga.

9. Real Madrid 2-1 FC Barcelona, 2014

The Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Spain, hosted the 2014 Copa Del Rey final between Real Madrid and Barcelona on April 16. The match seemed headed for extra time, but a brilliant 85th-minute goal from Gareth Bale secured the victory for Real Madrid. It marked their 19th Copa del Rey title.

8. FC Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid, 2010

After dominating El Clasico the previous season, Barcelona, led by coach Pep Guardiola, continued their strong form in 2009-10. Real Madrid had spent big to rebuild their "Galactico Era," bringing in stars like Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But Madrid’s firepower wasn’t enough. Barcelona crushed them 5-0 at the Camp Nou, with David Villa scoring twice. Messi didn’t score but played a big role in most of the goals.

Read Also: Barcelona vs Real Madrid trophy battle: Which club has won more trophies

7. FC Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid, 2007

This LaLiga match between Barcelona and Real Madrid took place at Camp Nou on March 10, 2007, and ended in an exciting 3-3 draw. Both teams played their hearts out, making it one of the greatest El Clasico matches in recent years.

Messi scored a hat-trick, while Van Nistelrooy scored twice and Ramos added one for Madrid. A fierce, high-scoring clash that highlighted both teams' firepower.

6. Real Madrid 4-2 FC Barcelona, 2005

The early 2000s saw Real Madrid stacked with stars like Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Beckham, and Ronaldo Nazario. Despite Barcelona boasting talents like Ronaldinho, Eto'o, and Xavi, Madrid outclassed them with a 4-2 win—Zidane and Ronaldo struck early, while Raul and Owen sealed it in the second half.

5. Real Madrid 3-1 FC Barcelona, 1960

Real Madrid’s clash with Barcelona in the 1960 European Cup Semifinal is seen as a key moment in El Clasico history. Madrid won 3-1 and reached the final. Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas found the net for Real Madrid, sealing their victory in the semifinal against Barcelona.

The match showed the strong rivalry and attacking power of both teams. It's still remembered today as one of the greatest El Clasico matches and a major turning point in their history.

4. FC Barcelona 4-0 Real Madrid, 2015

During the peak of the MSN era at Barcelona, the team looked unstoppable in Spain. But for the first El Clasico of the season, Messi was out with an injury. Surprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t make much impact, while Luis Suárez and Neymar stepped up. They led Barcelona to a dominant 4-0 win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Read Also: Youngest goalscorers in El Clasico: Lamine Yamal breaks 77-year-old record to become the youngest ever

3. Real Madrid 4-2 FC Barcelona, 1988

With both teams playing attacking football and creating plenty of chances, this was the greatest El Clasico match of the 1980s. Butragueno gave Real Madrid the lead, but Gary Lineker put Barcelona ahead. Goals from Schuster and Michel made it 3-1 for Madrid. Julio Salinas gave Barca hope, but a late goal from Hugo Sanchez sealed the win for Real Madrid.

2. FC Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid, 2011

One of the most intense and dramatic El Clasicos happened in 2011 during the Supercopa de Espana. The first leg ended in a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu, but the second leg had everything—goals, fouls, and lots of drama.

Iniesta put Barcelona ahead, Ronaldo equalised, and Messi sealed it with two goals, including a late 88th-minute winner. The match turned chaotic after a foul on Fabregas sparked a brawl, leading to four red cards and Mourinho infamously poking Vilanova in the eye.

1. FC Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid, 2017

Debatably the greatest El Clasico match of the modern era, took place in the 2016-17 LaLiga season. Real Madrid was leading the league and hoping to extend their lead, while Barcelona needed a win to stay in the title race.

What made this match unforgettable happened in the final moments. The ball was passed to Messi just outside the Real Madrid penalty area. Instead of taking a wild shot, Messi calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner, securing a crucial victory for Barcelona at their biggest rivals' home.

Hello and welcome to another LIVE coverage of Sportz Point. This is Koushik Biswas, with the Copa del Rey 2025 Final LIVE updates for you. 

Tonight, we will have one of the biggest games of World football as FC Barcelona take on Real Madrid in an El Clásico clash for the Copa del Rey title. Barcelona, who are leading the race for the La Liga title, would hope to win their second trophy of the season and be in contention for another Treble. 

Meanwhile, Real Madrid, who are second in the La Liga and have been knocked out of the Champions League, would like to bring glory to the club as well. 

Hence, we have an exciting game in our hands. So, sit back and relax as we bring you all the buildup stories, team news, stats and LIVE updates of the FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid El-Clasico match. 

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