Zinedine Zidane Names Real Madrid’s Top Three Players—Excludes Cristiano Ronaldo

Zinedine Zidane recently shared which three Real Madrid players impressed him the most during his time as the club’s manager, and surprisingly, he did not mention Cristiano Ronaldo. Zidane, who played for and managed Los Blancos, is no stranger to the exceptional talent at the club, having worked with some of the best players in the world, including Ronaldo. However, when asked to name the players who stood out to him, Zidane instead highlighted Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema.

Zidane himself spent five seasons at Real Madrid as a player from 2001 to 2006, scoring 49 goals in 230 appearances. During that time, he became a legend at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning the La Liga title twice and securing the Champions League trophy in 2002 with a memorable volley in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. After retiring in 2006, he transitioned into coaching and eventually took over as Real Madrid’s head coach in 2016, following a brief stint managing Real Madrid B.

In his two separate spells as head coach, Zidane led the club to remarkable success. Under his leadership from 2016 to 2018 and again from 2019 to 2021, Real Madrid won two La Liga titles and three consecutive Champions League trophies. His ability to get the best out of a squad filled with immense talent was evident, but one player who undeniably played a crucial role during Zidane’s reign was Ronaldo.

Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game. His decade at Real Madrid was nothing short of extraordinary, with 450 goals in 438 appearances, which made him the club’s all-time leading scorer. During his time at Madrid, Ronaldo also won four Ballon d’Or awards, cementing his legacy as a true footballing icon. Given his impact, many would assume that Ronaldo would be at the top of Zidane’s list of players who impressed him the most.

However, when Zidane reflected on his managerial career and was asked to name the three players who stood out, he chose Kroos, Modric, and Benzema. Speaking to Canal+, Zidane praised their contributions, saying: “When you see Kroos, Modric, and Benzema playing for you for an hour without losing a single ball, that is football.” These three players were crucial to the club’s success during Zidane’s time in charge, and their consistency and technical brilliance evidently left a lasting impression on the Frenchman.

Toni Kroos, who retired in the summer of 2023, was a pivotal figure in Real Madrid’s midfield after joining from Bayern Munich in 2014. Known for his vision and precision passing, Kroos played 465 games for Real Madrid, contributing 28 goals along the way. His calm presence in the middle of the park was instrumental in controlling the tempo of matches, and his ability to dictate play made him one of Zidane’s most trusted players.

Zinedine Zidane Names Real Madrid's Top Three Players—Excludes Cristiano Ronaldo

Luka Modric, despite being 39 years old, continues to be a key figure for Real Madrid. The Croatian maestro joined the club in 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur and has made over 547 appearances, scoring 39 goals in the process. His vision, intelligence, and work rate have made him one of the best midfielders of his generation. Modric’s role in helping Real Madrid dominate European football during Zidane’s tenure cannot be overstated, and it’s clear Zidane still holds him in the highest regard.

Karim Benzema, who played alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid for nearly a decade, has been another standout performer for the club. Benzema, who left Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 to join Al-Ittihad, scored 354 goals in 648 matches for Los Blancos. The French striker consistently delivered in crucial moments, especially after Ronaldo’s departure in 2018, when Benzema stepped up as the club’s primary goal threat. Zidane always had faith in Benzema, even when the striker faced criticism early in his Madrid career, and his loyalty was rewarded as Benzema developed into one of the best forwards in world football.

Although Ronaldo’s name is synonymous with Real Madrid’s success in the past decade, Zidane’s decision to focus on Kroos, Modric, and Benzema reflects his appreciation for their consistency, intelligence, and teamwork. These three players epitomized the type of football Zidane wanted his team to play—focused on control, technical excellence, and maintaining possession under pressure.

In Zidane’s view, while Ronaldo’s individual brilliance was unmatched, it was the collective brilliance of players like Kroos, Modric, and Benzema that allowed Real Madrid to dominate both in Spain and in Europe. These three players embodied Zidane’s vision of football, and their ability to control games and play with unmatched composure evidently left a lasting mark on their former coach.

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