The 7 Greatest Players to Wear Real Madrid's Number 7 Shirt

The number seven shirt holds a special place in Real Madrid's history, more so than any other squad number. This iconic jersey has been donned by some of the most beloved and talented players to ever wear that famous white kit. 

Here's a look at the seven greatest number sevens to have written their names into Real Madrid history. 

Joseíto

Real Madrid have always been entwined with the European Cup. No club has won the competition more often and for five consecutive years they were the only side to lift the trophy. The first time Real claimed the European Cup José Iglesias Fernández - Joseíto - wore the number seven as Los Blancos came back from 2-0 down to defeat Reims 4-3 in the final.

Joseíto played in four of the club's five consecutive European Cup victories. The Spaniard was a versatile forward but often started in an outside right position - a modern day right winger - and so became accustomed to wearing that famous number seven.

After starting his career at his hometown club of Atlético Zamora, Joseíto hopped between Spanish sides before Real Madrid recognised his searing pace and determination, bringing him to the capital in 1951 as 25-year-old. 

Joseíto won a trophy for each of the nine years he spent at the club, including four La Liga titles, Madrid's first for 21 years. In 177 official matches for Los Blancos, Joseíto scored 77 goals, fitting for a legendary number seven.

Amancio Amaro

Amancio Amaro starred on the right wing in the Deportivo La Coruña side which gained promotion to La Liga in 1959, catching the eye of Madrid's president, Santiago Bernabéu. As he so often did, the man who Madrid named their stadium after got his way in 1962 and signed a 22-year-old Amancio for 12 million pesetas - a colossal fee at the time.

Yet, the young man seemed to join just as Madrid's European crown started to slip. After five consecutive European Cups, Amancio had to wait until his second season to reach the final, where they were beaten by an incredible Inter team, in Alfredo Di Stéfano's last game for the club. 

However, 1964 would be a year to remember for Amancio, as he was an instrumental figure when Spain won the European Championships that summer. Amancio scored the winning goal in the semi-final against Hungary before his nation defeated the Soviet Union, in front of a boisterous Santiago Bernabéu stadium he knew as home. 

Amancio's spell in white peaked when the club won their sixth European Cup in 1966. By this point the former winger had drifted infield from the right flank and drew Madrid level after falling behind to Yugoslavian side Partizan Belgrade. Fernando Serena made it 2-1 and Amancio won his first and only European trophy. 

Across his 14 seasons with the club, Amancio won nine La Liga titles as his talent helped Madrid recover from the loss of several iconic players from that all-conquering European side of the 1950s. 

Juanito

As a player, Juanito was revered more for his temper and passion than his footballing ability. Yet, he had all three in abundance. 

Juanito joined Atlético Madrid as a youth team player but never made a senior appearance, probably doing no harm to his legend for those of a Real persuasion in the Spanish capital. Four impressive years with Burgos as they won promotion was enough to earn him a move to the Bernabéu as Real won the race for his coveted signature. 

Upon arrival, Juanito earned a place in Madridistas' hearts by saying: "Playing for Real Madrid is like touching the sky." Before adding: "If I weren't a player, I'd be an ultra sur." Juanito spent more than a decade with the club and played over 400 matches as he won five La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey and two UEFA Cups. 

Tragically, Juanito perished in a car crash in 1992 at the age of 37. Yet, to this day he is remembered whenever the clock at the Bernabéu hits seven minutes, a nod to the number he often donned.

Raymond Kopa

After Madrid had prevailed in the first ever European Cup final in 1956, one player in the Reims side they had beaten caught Santiago Bernabéu's eye - Raymond Kopa. 

The Frenchman had lined up as a centre-forward against Madrid for the final, but by the start of the following season he was sharing a dressing room with his victorious opponents. Kopa was an exquisite inside forward who seamlessly slotted into Madrid's front line as he would help them win three more European Cups and two La Liga titles during his three seasons in the capital. 

In 1958 he was instrumental in Madrid's double of domestic and European titles before he helped steer France to a third-place finish at that summer's World Cup. That year he won the Ballon d'Or after finishing third in the previous two editions. 

Kopa may have only been at Madrid for three seasons, but he was part of a historic side and was never one to be outshone by the other glitterati he shared the field with. As his teammate Juan Santisteban said, "Raymond Kopa did magic, amazing things you didn't think possible." 

Emilio Butragueño

A Madrid socio from birth, Emilio Butragueño joined the club as a fresh-faced, blonde, angelic boy while he was still doing his military service. In a contrast to his softly-spoken and polite nature, Butragueño earned the nickname El Buitre - the Vulture - thanks to his lethal finishing in front of goal.

Between 1984 and 1994, Butragueño hit double figures in ten consecutive seasons. As El Buitre, he gave his name to Madrid's greatest team since Alfredo Di Stéfano had left 20 years earlier, La Quinta del Buitre - the Vulture Squad. 

On his debut in 1984, aged 20, Madrid were losing 2-0 when he came on. By the end of the game it was 3-2 and Butragueño had scored twice and set up the other. He became the face of the Vulture Squad which had, at its heart, five graduates of Madrid's academy, La Fábrica. 

This side, with their number seven Butragueño at the sharp end of the attack, won two UEFA Cups and five consecutive La Liga titles but the European Cup would forever elude El Buitre's grasp. 

Cristiano Ronaldo

As someone eager to cultivate their own brand, it must have been a bitter pill to swallow for Cristiano Ronaldo to arrive in the Spanish capital for a record fee, only to be presented with the number nine shirt - not exactly in keeping with CR7. 

Fortunately, after a certain legend (see below) departed, Ronaldo slotted into his familiar number seven in his second campaign. On the theme of numbers, the figures that the Portuguese star racked up whilst in the white of Madrid are truly startling. 

450 goals in 438 matches, 44 hat-tricks, and six consecutive seasons where he broke the 50-goal mark. It's fair to say that his team as a Madrid number seven will ensure he goes down as one of the greatest players of all-time. 

Raúl

Born in Madrid, Raúl actually played for Atlético's youth team before Los Blancos snatched him away aged 15 in 1992. Two years later and he had worked his way into the first team. In only his second game for the club he started and scored in the Madrid derby as Los Blancos ran out 4-2 winners. 

His debut season would bring the first of six La Liga titles and in 1998 he helped the side win the Champions League, their first premier European trophy in 32 years. 

During his time in the capital, the Spain international was an incredibly consistent performer who played against ever opponent with equal vigour, making at least 40 appearances across all competitions in 13 of his 16 seasons with Real. 

For 14 of those years, he proudly wore the number seven and added the captain's armband in 2003. During his time with Los Blancos he amassed a record 741 appearances and despite playing alongside galáticos who had cost the club countless millions, Raúl never looked out of place with that famous number seven on his back.