Picking a Best Real Madrid XI Using Only 1 Player of Each Nationality

Zinedine Zidane has it tough at Real Madrid, picking his lineup to win any given match only for social media, press and pundits to immediately suggest he should have chosen someone on the bench ahead of someone in the XI.

OK, it’s not the worst job ever. But Isco or James Rodriguez? Karim Benzema or Alvaro Morata? It’s nice to have the choice, but leaving someone out is always a tough decision to make.

How would you fare trying to do that with Real Madrid’s greatest players in recent history but only being allowed to pick one from each nation?

      

Criteria

So here’s the deal and why it’s not as easy as it looks: only one player per nationality, yes, but that’s FIFA-approved, national-team-representing, one-flag-per-player nationality. So there’s no cheating and saying Benzema counts as Algerian or that Luis Figo’s Swedish wife, Helen Svedin, means he can represent them instead to accommodate two greats from certain nations.

We’re also only including players from 2000/01 onward, making it relevant to both modern-day football and including the Galactico era, so the likes of Robert Jarni and Clarence Seedorf are ineligible for selection. Other than that, the formation must be recognisable (no table football-style 2-3-5s). At least some semblance of balance makes for the best teams.

Over to you, then—but bear in mind that Spain, Portugal and Brazil make up the vast majority of available picks down the years, just like they do this season. So will it be Raul or Iker Casillas? Figo or Cristiano Ronaldo? Marcelo or Ronaldo? Choose wisely—especially in defence!

     

Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas, Costa Rica

Nobody is ready to appoint Keylor Navas as the greatest Madrid goalkeeper ever just yet, but there’s no doubt he’s near the head of the class in La Liga and, when on top form, among Europe’s best for reflexes, reliability and producing incredible saves.

He’s also from Costa Rica, which is not a famed producer of footballing talent for Los Blancos. That immediately puts him in an advantageous position for our side.

Keylor’s a good starting point, an excellent last line of defence and, aside from Casillas, doesn’t have much competition anyway.

    

Centre-back: Fabio Cannavaro, Italy

It’s time to reveal our formation: 3-4-3. The decision hasn’t been taken lightly, but with Spanish right-backs dominating for Madrid down the years—Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos and Michel Salgado—there are only so many defenders to pick from. And we didn’t fancy Cicinho or Julien Faubert in a Best XI.

So it’s three centre-backs, and Fabio Cannavaro is first up.

Despite Italy being a regular producer of top-tier talent, Real Madrid haven’t particularly enjoyed any imports from the nation over a longer period, making Cannavaro an easy choice. His first two years at Madrid were largely good despite his advancing age.

    

Centre-back: Fernando Hierro, Spain

Spain, naturally, is the most competitive …

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