Top 10 Best Spanish Soccer Players of All Time

Spain is called a cultural hub for soccer talents as the country has been producing legends of the game for quite some years. Some of them have imprinted a glorious legacy in the sands of time and have established themselves as the best Spanish Soccer players. 

Players like Iker Casillas, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, and Xavi Hernandez have been pivotal in the glorious chapter of Spanish Soccer history including La Liga. With their masterclass of performances, they have turned the wheels of soccer after 2008. Having said that, we have compiled a list of the best Spanish soccer players of all time.

Ranking Factors

While making the list of the best Spanish soccer players in history, we have focused on some important factors like longevity, goal contributions, assists and number of trophies won at the international level. After reviewing these key facts, we have compiled a list of the nation’s true soccer legends.

• Goal contribution
• Assists
• Trophies
• Longevity

List of Best Spanish Soccer Players (Top 10)

Also Read: Who are the Best Spanish Midfielders Ever in History

10. David Villa

The perfect epitome of an out-and-out striker, David Villa was the pillar of the attacking strength in the Spanish Soccer team for just less than a decade. The owner of the number 7 jersey took the baton from the outgoing Raul Gonzalez and made the best use of the opportunity given in 2009. 

The former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid forward became the all time top scorer of Spain with 59 goals and cemented his place as a celebrated legend of the soccer community of the country. After winning the 2012 Euro Championship, injuries played a pivotal role in destroying his paced career before he retired in 2014.

9. Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique’s inclusion on the list of the best Spanish Soccer players should not be questioned, given his contribution to the glorious achievements of La Roja from 2008 to 2012. His transfer to Barcelona from Manchester United in 2009 turned out as a blessing as Pique built a solid defensive partnership with Carles Puyol at Barcelona, and became a regular member of La Roja. In both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 Euro Championship, Pique was instrumental in building a fortress at the Spanish defense with Sergio Ramos. Despite making controversial headlines through his theatrics on the field, it is fair to say he was an integral part of Spanish soccer’s golden generation.

8. Raul

If you ask the fans from yesteryears then they will say that Raul Gonzalez is the best Spanish Soccer player in history. The former Real Madrid forward was a cog in the wheel of the Spanish attack who had the ability to stop the time with his marvelous finishing and skills. 

His international career which spanned over a decade, saw him netting 44 goals and emerging as the top scorer of the country at that time. But, Raul’s rosy days for La Roja came to an end when the then coach Luis Aragones decided to drop him for tactical changes in the team. After Spain’s 2008 Euro victory, Raul could not make it to the National team anymore as David Villa had already made a place for him.

7. Xabi Alonso

Spain was literally invincible between 2008 and 2012, and Xabi Alonso was one of the magicians who were the cruisers in that successful period. Alonso’s elegance, composure and defense-tearing passes made him a pillar of La Roja in one World Cup and two Euro titles victory. Alonso is not only one of the best Spanish Soccer players of all time, he is also a legend of the game. His dedication and work ethic are an inspiration for thousands of young midfielders globally.

6. Sergio Busquets

When Sergio Busquets was a young midfielder coming out of Barcelona’s famous youth academy, Vicente del Bosque predicted that the former would be one of the best Spanish Soccer players ever. And the Barcelona playmaker proved the former Spanish coach right, thanks to his sensational performances in 2010 FIFA World Cup, a tournament that gave him fame and recognition. 

Busquets’ playing style was simple and fluid and used to create an aroma of talent on the field. The flawless defensive midfielder worked as the silent mechanism to implement the Tiki-taka playing style.

5. Carles Puyol

Carles was most probably the biggest icon and legend during his playing days for Loja Roja and Barcelona. Hailed as the best center-back of soccer once, Puyol’s journey to become one of the best Spanish Soccer players in history is interesting and eventful. La Roja was popular only for flawless attacking and passing displays, but Puyol, the defensive maestro alongside Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique broke that belief by delivering numerous eye-catching performances at the back. His monumental presence at defence led Spain to two back-to-back Euro Championship titles and one World Cup glory. 

4. Sergio Ramos

An impressive career, tons of trophies, multiple red cards, and some deciding goals have transformed Sergio Ramos into a beast of a defender and later one of the best Spanish Soccer players of all time. The former Real Madrid, Sevilla, and Paris Saint-Germain center-back earned a record 180 caps for La Roja with 23 strikes.

During the 2008 Euro and 2010 FIFA World Cup, Ramos operated on the left as a right back. But later under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho, he became a regular center-back and a leader at the back. Despite playing as a defender, he is the eighth-highest scorer in the history of the country.

3. Iker Casillas

Saint Iker! This nickname Iker Casillas earned for his incredible career for club and country that spanned more than a decade. From 2008 to 2020, the most trusted last line of defense, Casillas was like a flying beast inside the framework and bailed out La Roja from multiple tricky situations by denying strikers from scoring. His trailblazing displays in the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euro earned him the nickname, Saint Iker. Before Spain lifted the global trophy, Casillas already etched his name as one of the best Spanish Soccer players and the best goalkeeper in the history of the country.

2. Xavi Hernandez

If you want to be a perfect central midfielder, then here is Xavi Hernandez for you. After his arrival to the field, everything changed for Spain and Barcelona. He and his midfield partner Andres Iniesta changed the fortunes of Barcelona and their country with their creativity, vision and calmness.

Since he joined La Roja, he became the engine of the Spanish midfield, dictating the play on his terms. With the ball at his feet, Xavi had the ability to create buzz around the world. 13 goals and 27 trophies with Barcelona pushed him to become one of the best Spanish Soccer players of all time.

1. Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta is our first choice on the list of the best Spanish Soccer players. It was a tough choice to pick him over Xavi, but Iniesta’s geniuses have earned him the first spot. Iniesta was like an evergreen cinema. If you watch it, you will fall in love. Grace, elegance, vision, and a wide array of passing range were the major weapons at his disposal to glide across the pitch like a blue whale. He was the most functional key in Spain’s success in 2008 Euro and 2010 World Cup. The La Roja fans still remember Iniesta’s extra-time strike that won them the World Cup title in 2010 against Netherlands. He made 131 international appearances and won 30 trophies for Barcelona before hanging his boots.

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