Two of Spain’s greatest ever players made their professional bows for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively on this day, eight years apart.
Over the weekend, the world was glued to the immense football talents on show at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid and Barcelona met in this season’s first El Clasico, but today marks a special anniversary for two of the clubs’ most decorated and beloved players.
On October 29, Real Madrid’s supreme finisher Raul and Barcelona’s precision passer Andres Iniesta made their debuts for the Spanish giants; Iniesta against Club Bruges in the Champions League 12 years ago and Raul for Los Blancos against Zaragoza in La Liga way back in 1994.
In an amazing career for Real Madrid, Raul played 741 games, scoring 323 goals and winning six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues. We bet former Atletico Madrid president Jesus Gil must have seriously regretted closing their youth academy after seeing the former Rojiblanco trainee move to their arch rivals and become Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer.
As for the nicest man in football, well, Andres Iniesta has won only the six La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues, two Spanish Cups, two European Championships and the World Cup. Not a bad haul to be fair
Here are some of the outstanding moments produced in the careers of two of the best players that Spain has ever produced.
Raul
His debut against Zaragoza
His first goal, which, ironically, came against Atletico Madrid
This goal against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2002
Some of his best goals for the club
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRUQ1yFzS7U
Andres Iniesta
His debut against Club Bruges (around the 3:10 mark but he was class as a kid)
This goal against Chelsea in the 2009 Champions League semi-final
This turn against PSG
Some of his most exquisite passing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3d78j-B59w
And we couldn’t let this article pass without mentioning his most famous goal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5yE9YWc9TU
