Alfredo Di Stéfano

Alfredo Di Stéfano anchored Real Madrid's five consecutive European Cups from 1956 to 1960 and secured 8 La Liga titles. He scored 307 goals in 396 La Liga appearances, a ratio of 0.78 per game — the highest among Madrid players of his era. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1957 and 1959, being the first player to score in five straight European Cup Finals. Di Stéfano's influence on Madrid's global identity rivals that of #1 Lionel Messi at Barcelona; without him, the modern concept of Madrid as the world's greatest club may never have materialized.