The “El Clasico” match has been played between the best club in the world, Real Madrid and Barcelona since 1902. Across all official league championships like the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey, the two Spanish rivals have faced each other 260 times, with Real Madrid leading the head-to-head results in the official competition with 106 wins against Barcelona’s 104 wins with 52 draws. Here are the detailed top 10 goal scorers in the history of El Clasico:
10. Luis Suarez
- Matches Played: 15
- Goals Scored: 11
Luis Suarez is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as striker. He has played for some major clubs like Liverpool FC and Barcelona and currently plays in the Major League Soccer Club Inter Miami. Scoring 11 goals in just 15 match appearances is quite impressive. His most remarkable game was against their Spanish rival club Real Madrid scoring a hat-trick and trashing them 5-1.
9. Santillana
- Matches Played: 28
- Goals scored: 12
Carlos Alonso Gonzales, formerly known as Santillana is a retired Spanish professional footballer who played as a striker playing for Real Madrid from 1971-1988. The Spanish legend scored a total of 12 goals against Barcelona mostly in the La Liga tournaments.
8. Ferenc Puskas
- Matches Played: 11
- Goals scored: 14
Ferenc Puskas was a Hungarian footballer and a manager. He was known as one of the greatest players to play the sport. He was arguably the best forward in his generation. The “Puskas award” is named in the legend’s honor. He played 11 El Clasico’s against Barcelona winning 8 matches and drawing 3 holding a record.
7. Paco Gento
- Matches Played: 42
- Goals scored: 14
Paco Gento was a phenomenal Spanish football legend who played for his 18-year-old career in Real Madrid. He joined the club in 1953 and retired in 1971. He made around 600 appearances for the club with over 180 goals scored. His name is in the history books at the Santiago Bernabeu.
6. Cesar Rodriguez
- Matches Played: 19
- Goals scored: 14
Cesar Rodriguez Alvarez was a Spanish footballer and manager. He stretched a career for more than two decades, mainly playing for Barcelona making 351 official match appearances and scoring 232 goals. He was the highest goal scorer in the club’s history for many decades, until he was surpassed by Lionel Messi. He won five La Liga championships with 13 major trophies. After retirement, he managed Barcelona with other clubs. He also bagged many hat-tricks against Madrid.
5. Raul
- Matches Played: 37
- Goals scored: 15
Raul Gonzalez Blanco, known as his field name Raul, is a Spanish football manager and a former Spanish professional footballer, who played as a forward. Between 2000-2010, no player scored more goals than him in the El Clasico. His first goal against Barcelona was in September 1995. Raul never won the Ballon d’Or but was the runner-up in 2001.
4. Karim Benzema
- Matches played: 46
- Goals scored: 16
Karim Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker. He played for Real Madrid from 2009-2023, making quite a name for himself in the club history. Along with scoring 16 goals for the club, he also contributed 11 assists for his teammates. Karim Benzema was awarded the UEFA Player of the year and the Ballon d’Or in 2022.
3. Alfredo Di Stefano
- Matches Played: 35
- Goals scored: 18
Alfredo Di Stefano was an Argentine- Spanish football legend and manager. The Real Madrid fans still consider him as the greatest player who has ever lived in this club and who played as a striker. The former Spanish legend won 17 trophies. No player has scored more goals in any Clasico game than him in the 20th century.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
- Matches Played: 30
- Goals scored: 18
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a striker. No player has ever played like Ronaldo for Real Madrid and scored the most goals against Barcelona. Ronaldo is considered one of the most elite players football has ever produced. Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times- 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
1. Lionel Messi
- Matches played: 45
- Goals scored: 26
Lionel Messi, the Argentinian legend that still stands. There is no bigger icon than Messi himself in El Clasico history. Messi reigned his fear over Madrid over generations. The Argentine magician has countless memorable moments against Real Madrid from his stunning solo goal against them in the 2011 Champions League semi-final to his iconic last-minute winner away at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2017.
Written by: Atin Kevin