The number 7 jersey holds a special place in Real Madrid’s history, more than any other jersey number. Among Los Blancos faithful the mention of ‘siete’ (seven) sparks excitement and nostalgia. And for good reason.
Squad numbers often carry more weight than what meets the eye.
Like the players who wear them, these numbers can embody a rich history, especially when a succession of club legends don the same one.
Since Real Madrid began consistently assigning squad numbers after World War II, some of the club’s greatest players have worn the illustrious number seven.
This number has been associated with goalscorers and creators, Ballon d’Or winners, and cult heroes.
Though there have been a few underwhelming exceptions, the number seven has largely represented the club’s attacking prowess and has been cherished by Bernabéu favorites over the past eight decades.
Here are the top seven Real Madrid players who have worn the number seven like no other.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (2010-2018)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence in this article is merely a nod, as I assume Madridistas are already well-versed in his remarkable career.
His arrival in Madrid was a landmark moment but being handed the number 9 shirt must have been a disappointment for a player keenly aware of his brand.
CR7 is synonymous with the iconic number 7 after all. Fortunately, fate intervened when Raul departed allowing Ronaldo to claim his beloved number seven in his second season.
The statistics he accumulated while wearing the white of Madrid are simply staggering: 450 goals in 438 matches, 44 hat-tricks and an unprecedented six consecutive seasons with over 50 goals.
Ronaldo’s tenure as Madrid’s number seven has cemented his status as one of the all-time greats.
The new Al Nassr forward is the greatest to wear the iconic number 7, and possibly the Real Madrid shirt, with a stint that combined the best qualities of all his predecessors into one phenomenal footballer.
2. Raymond Kopa (1956-1959)
The tradition of squad numbers being tied to a player’s identity was just a modern concept not like that was how it started.
In the past players would often wear different numbers throughout the season. However, the number 7 shirt gained substance when Raymond Kopa a dominant force on the team made it his own.
From mining coals to the green grass of the football pitch where he rose to fame with his incredible talent.
His skills on the field were undeniable and he quickly made a name for himself at Stade Reims and led the team to two French league titles and a European Cup final.
Just when it seemed like he was on top of the world, Real Madrid came knocking, the Spanish giant secured his signature and his career soared to new heights.
His debut match for Los Blancos was a sweet 14-1 win over Sochaux.
They called him the ‘Napoleon of football’ due to his small stature, but his giant talent and clever playing style made him a fan favorite.
During his three years with Real Madrid, Kopa won several trophies and became the first French player to ever win the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 1958.
3. Raul (1995-2010)
The transfer of the number 7 jersey from Butragueño to Raúl was an underrated moment in Madrid’s history largely due to Butragueño’s quiet departure.
Raúl’s career was anything but quiet. Originally in line to join Atletico Madrid, Raúl quickly rose through Madrid’s youth system jumping from Real Madrid C to Castilla in just one season.
He made his first-team debut against Real Zaragoza at 17 scoring his first goal for the club in his second match fittingly against Atletico Madrid.
From that point on, Raúl’s career was a tale of relentless goal-scoring. He netted 9 goals in his debut season 19 in his second and 21 in his third.
Between his debut and 2004, he scored at least 20 goals every season except one winning three Champions League titles and four Laliga along the way.
Despite a surprising dip in form after 2004, Raúl continued to score eventually breaking Alfredo Di Stefano’s 45-year-old record in 2009 to become Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer.
Falling behind and not being able to command the starting lineup, Raúl moved to Schalke in 2010 where he further cemented his status as Europe’s all-time top scorer and became a beloved figure in Germany.
4. Emilio Butragueño (1985-1995)
Butragueño began to break into the senior ranks just as Juanito’s time at Real was ending.
The Madrid-born striker also nearly played for Atletico Madrid after multiple failed trials at Real. His father, a Real Madrid socio managed to secure his son one last trial on the right side of town.
Though the young Butragueño claimed he flunked that trial, he had hugely impressed the youth coaches and was signed by the club almost immediately afterward.
He began a meteoric rise up the youth ranks with the early highlights of his young career including a Segunda division title with Castilla, finishing as top goalscorer despite not playing a second division game after February.
Named El Buitre (the vulture) for his penchant to swoop in and finish moves, Butragueño led Real Madrid’s Quinta del Buitre era, starting in 1985 when he and his cohort affirmed themselves into the senior team and ending in 1990 with their fifth league title in a row.
Butragueño was a supremely elegant player and an efficient goalscorer.
He scored over 120 goals for Real in all competitions making him one of the club’s all-time top goalscorers despite spending a large chunk of his career facilitating Hugo Sanchez.
The Vulture remained at Real Madrid into the 1990s, scoring in the 1993 Copa del Rey final.
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5. Juanito (1977-1986)
From when Amaro retired til Ronaldo’s also move to Juve in 2018, the number seven jersey at Real Madrid has always found worthy successors except for a few hiccups (Hazard and Diaz).
The first to wear the number after El Brujo was Juan Gómez González popularly known as Juanito.
Juanito joined Real Madrid from Burgos in the summer of 1977. Originally from Málaga, he was one of many Real Madrid legends who began their careers at Atletico Madrid.
However, as they say, you can’t play destiny, Juanito’s dream was always to play in white.
Juanito brought a unique flair to the number seven. While he was undoubtedly a talented forward – winning the Pichichi Trophy in the 1984/85 season – it was his passion and heart that cemented his legendary status at the Bernabéu.
A fan favorite, he was known for his aggressive and outspoken nature often playing with his heart on his sleeve.
His time at the club was successful, with five league titles, two Copa del Rey trophies and two UEFA Cups. His spirit made him a natural leader especially when Real Madrid faced adversity.
On the other hand, his passionate nature frequently landed him in hot water with Spanish and European officials, ultimately leading to his departure from the club after a five-year ban from European competition for stamping on Lothar Matthäus.
After leaving Real Madrid Juanito finished his playing career with Málaga and was coaching Mérida when he tragically died in a car crash at the age of 37.
6. Amanico Amaro (1962-1976)
After Kopa left several other layers tried to fill the number seven jersey at Real Madrid.
Canario wore it during the 1960 European Cup final when Madrid defeated Eintracht Frankfurt and Jesús Herrera wore it during the 1962 final loss to Benfica. However, it was the 23-year-old Amancio Amaro who truly made the number his own.
Amaro stands out as one of the most important players to wear the number 7 for Real Madrid.
His stint with Los Blancos marked a shift from the number 7 being a positional identifier to a symbol of individual brilliance. He began to build the glamour that now surrounds the number seven at the club.
Amaro started his career at Victoria when he was just 15.
After a four-year spell, he moved to Segunda side Deportivo La Coruña in 1958. It was at Deportivo that Amaro earned his reputation and the nickname “El Brujo” (the wizard) due to his good dribbling skills.
In the 1961-62 season he won the Segunda División Pichichi Trophy as Deportivo was promoted to La Liga as champions. His stellar performances caught the attention of Real Madrid, who signed him for a record fee in 1962.
7. Joseíto (1951–1959)
Real Madrid’s legacy is deeply laced with winning the Europe prestigious Cup.
No club has won the competition more than they have, they were the only club to lift the Champions League trophy five times in 8 years.
The first time Real won the European Cup, Joseíto wore the number seven jersey. In that historic final Los Blancos came back from 2-0 down to beat Reims 4-3.
Joseíto was instrumental in four of the club’s five consecutive European Cup victories. A versatile forward, he often played as an outside right—akin to a modern-day right winger—and thus became synonymous with the iconic number seven.
Starting his career at his hometown club Atlético Zamora he moved between several Spanish clubs before Real Madrid snapped him up in 1951 at the age of 25.
During his nine stints with the club, he won trophies every season including four La Liga titles, the first for Madrid in 21 years. In 177 official matches for Los Blancos, he scored 77 goals – a fitting tally for a legendary number seven.
Real Madrid’s Number 7 In History
| Player | Period |
|---|
| Sabino Barinaga | 1948-51 |
| Jose Montalvo | 1948-49 |
| Francisco Juanco | 1948-51 |
| Toni | 1949-50 |
| Joaquin Navarro | 1949-50 |
| Rafa Verdu | 1949-52 |
| Pablo Olmedo | 1949-50 |
| Gyorgy Nemes | 1949-53 |
| Pedro Arsuaga | 1950-51 |
| Alfonso Navarro | 1950-51 |
| Mario Imbelloni | 1950-51 |
| Joseito | 1950-51 |
| Jose Maria Zarraga | 1951-59 |
| Antonio Gausi | 1951-52 |
| Luis Molowny | 1951-52 |
| Raymond Kopa | 1956-59 |
| Jesus Herrera | 1959-60 |
| Canario | 1959-60 |
| Justo Tejada | 1961-62 |
| Amancio Amaro | 1963-73 |
| Fernando Serena | 1965-67 |
| Ico Aguilar | 1971-72 |
| Henning Jensen | 1976-77 |
| Juanito | 1980-86 |
| Ito | 1981-82 |
| Francisco Pineda | 1981-85 |
| Manolo Sanchis | 1984-85 |
| Angel | 1984-85 |
| Rafa Martin Vazquez | 1984-95 |
| Emilio Butragueno | 1984-95 |
| Chucho Solana | 1986-87 |
| Adolfo Aldana | 1987-88 |
| Paco Llorente | 1988-90 |
| Luis Milla | 1992-93 |
| Alfonso | 1993-95 |
| Luis Enrique | 1993-95 |
| Peter Dubovsky | 1994-95 |
| Jose Amavisca | 1994-95 |
| Raul | 1995-2010 |
| Juan Esnaider | 1995-96 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 2010-18 |
| Mariano Diaz | 2018-19 |
| Eden Hazard | 2019-23 |
| Vinicius Junior | 2023- |
