Spanish football enjoyed its best ever era between 2008 and 2012, with back-to-back European Championship titles and a historic World Cup win in the middle.
Apart from a continental crown on home soil back in 1964, major tournaments had previously been a disappointment for La Roja. Always among the favourites, the Spanish seemed to fluff their lines on the biggest stage.
But with their triumph at Euro 2008, all of that changed as a new golden era began and Spain wowed the world with a special style of football.
Naturally, many of Spain’s standout players come from those victories. Here, a look at the nation’s greatest ever…
32. Dani Carvajal
(Image credit: Getty Images)
After some bad luck with injuries in his first few years with Spain, Dani Carvajal went on to captain La Roja later in his career.
Having just missed out on Spain’s golden era, the Real Madrid right-back made his international debut in 2014 and his highlight came in 2023, when he scored the winning penalty in La Roja’s UEFA Nations League final win over Croatia.
31. Jose Antonio Camacho
(Image credit: Getty Images)
A legendary left-back who played his entire career at Real Madrid, Jose Antonio Camacho won 81 caps for Spain in the 1970s and 1980s.
Camacho claimed nine La Liga titles during his time at Real Madrid and featured in two World Cups for Spain. He was also part of the team which finished as runners-up at the 1984 European Championship and later coached La Roja between 1998 and 2002.
30. Telmo Zarra
(Image credit: Getty Images)
A legendary forward for Athletic Club in the 1940s and 1950s, Telmo Zarra scored an incredible 335 goals in 334 games for the Basque outfit.
Zarra’s international career was halted early on by the Second World War, but he played 20 times for Spain and scored 20 goals. Four of those came in the 1950 World Cup.
29. Gaizka Mendieta
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Gaizka Mendieta was one of the world’s most exciting players in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but the Basque was never the same after a big-money transfer to Lazio in 2001.
An all-action midfielder and scorer of spectacular goals, Mendieta led Valencia to back-to-back Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001. For Spain, he rarely reached those levels but was important and his no-look penalty technique was highly effective. Had he still been on the pitch against France at Euro 2000 when Raul missed a late spot-kick, Spain’s story might have been different.
28. Rodri
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Spain’s golden generation of players was the envy of the world during their glory years between 2008 and 2012, but La Roja have not produced the same level of talent in recent years.
Rodri is the exception. The midfielder scored the winner for Manchester City in the 2023 Champions League final and was instrumental as Spain claimed the Nations League title later in the summer. The best player to emerge for La Roja in years.
27. Pedro
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Pedro broke through at Barcelona in the 2009/10 season and the following summer, the winger found himself starting for Spain in a World Cup final.
The Tenerife-born attacker came in for the semi-final against Germany as Fernando Torres dropped to the bench and kept his place in the showpiece against the Netherlands. He appeared as a substitute in all of Spain’s knockout games at Euro 2012 and scored 17 goals in 65 games between 2010 and 2017.
26. Fernando Morientes
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Fernando Morientes formed an impressive partnership with Raul at Real Madrid in the last 1990s and that continued at international level.
Morientes was one of the best centre-forwards of his generation and always seemed to perform well for Spain, netting 27 goals in 47 appearances for La Roja – five of those at World Cups.
25. Andoni Zubizarreta
(Image credit: Getty Images)
It is a shame that Andoni Zubizarreta is best remembered by many for his mistake against Nigeria at the 1998 World Cup – because the Basque was one of La Roja’s greatest goalkeepers.
The former Athletic Club and Barcelona shot-stopper played in four World Cups for Spain and won 126 caps in an impressive international career, which ended after the disappointment of World Cup group-stage exit in 1998.
24. Santi Cazorla
(Image credit: Getty Images)
If it wasn’t for injuries, Santi Cazorla would likely be much higher on this list, but the Asturian still played 81 games for Spain.
The elegant former Arsenal and Villarreal midfielder was sidelined for the 2010 World Cup, but did feature in both of Spain’s European Championship wins in 2008 and 2012. He scored 15 goals for La Roja before retiring from international football in 2019.
23. Amancio Amaro
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Amancio Amaro was nicknamed “El Brujo” (The Wizard) in a successful career as outside right for Deportivo La Coruña, Real Madrid and Spain.
A nine-time La Liga winner and a European champion with Los Blancos, Amancio also helped Spain to win the European Championship in 1964, scoring an extra-time winner against Hungary in the last four. He won 42 caps overall, scoring 11 goals.
22. Alfredo Di Stefano
(Image credit: Getty Images)
One of the greatest players in the history of football, Alfredo Di Stefano was barred from playing for Argentina after featuring for a Colombia XI, so decided to represent Spain instead in the 1950s.
The Real Madrid legend scored an impressive 23 goals in 31 appearances for Spain, but La Roja failed to qualify for the 1958 World Cup and he missed the 1962 edition through injury. Without him, Spain won the European Championship two years later.
21. Luis Enrique
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Before becoming a successful coach, Luis Enrique was an all-action midielder for Real Madrid and most notably Barcelona in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The Asturian was something of an emblematic player for Spain in that time, appearing in three World Cups (1994, 1998 and 2000) and famously ending up with a bloodied face following an elbow from Italy’s Mauro Tassotti in the first of those. He scored 12 goals in 62 appearances overall.
20. Pep Guardiola
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola was one of the finest midfielders of his generation, excelling as an intelligent deep-lying playmaker for Barcelona in the 1990s.
The Catalan was also an important player for Spain in a generation which promised more than it delivered, featuring in the quarter-final runs at the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000. He missed the 1998 World Cup through injury, but won 47 caps in total.
19. Michel
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Michel was a talented winger and fan favourite at Real Madrid in the 1980s, known for his impressive crossing ability from the right flank and his eye for goal.
The midfielder went on to become one of Spain’s standout stars in that era, too, memorably hitting a hat-trick against South Korea in the 1990 World Cup and netting 21 goals in 66 caps overall.
18. Jordi Alba
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jordi Alba made his debut a year after Spain’s World Cup win, but the attacking left-back would go on to become a key player with La Roja for more than a decade.
Alba started every game at Euro 2012 and scored Spain’s second goal against Italy in the final. And in 2023, he captained the team to victory in the UEFA Nations League before retiring from international football later in the summer. He is probably the best left-back in Spain’s history.
17. Fernando Hierro
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Fernando Hierro played 89 times for Spain and scored 29 goals during what was a period of underachievement for La Roja. But that wasn’t his fault.
The former Real Madrid and Spain skipper was a stylish central defender who could also operate in midfield and had a good goals record. Powerful, elegant and a natural leader, he was one of the best in the world in his prime.
16. Emilio Butragueño
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Emilio Butragueno gave his name to a special generation of players at Real Madrid in the 1980s, La Quinta del Buitre, and was also Spain’s most exciting player at that time.
Butragueno scored five goals at the 1986 World Cup, including four in a 5-1 win over Denmark. In total, he hit 26 in 69 games for La Roja and is considered one of the nation’s best-ever centre-forwards.
15. Cesc Fabregas
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Cesc Fabregas featured prominently in all three of Spain’s tournament wins between 2008 and 2012, starting in both European Championship finals and coming off the bench in the World Cup showpiece in 2010.
It was the midfielder’s pass in extra time which set up Andres Iniesta for Spain’s winner against the Netherlands – the most important goal in Spanish football history. Fabregas was later used as a false nine in 2012 and won 110 caps overall, scoring 15 goals.
14. Fernando Torres
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Fernando Torres scored the goal which ended Spain’s long wait for silverware as he hit the winner against Germany in the final of Euro 2008.
The former Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea striker rushed his way back from injury to feature in the 2010 World Cup and was never really the same after that, but his contribution was still significant and he came off the bench to score in the Euro 2012 final against Italy.
13. Gerard Pique
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Gerard Pique often divided opinion within Spanish football and the former Barcelona defender upset some supporters with his outspoken thoughts on Real Madrid, but his importance in La Roja’s golden era is without question.
The Catalan centre-back transferred his excellent partnership with Barcelona team-mate Carles Puyol over to international level at the 2010 World Cup and was also excellent alongside Sergio Ramos at Euro 2012. Capped 102 times for Spain overall, he was missed following his retirement in 2018.
12. Xabi Alonso
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso was one of the pillars of Spain’s success between 2008 and 2012, featuring in all three of their tournament successes.
The elegant midfielder started only one match at Euro 2008 under Luis Aragones, coming off the bench in the semi-final and the final as La Roja claimed their first silverware since 1964, but he was an ever-present in a magnificent midfield for Vicente del Bosque in 2010 and 2012. Alonso played 114 times for Spain, scoring 16 goals – including both in the 2-0 quarter-final win over France at Euro 2012.
11. Paco Gento
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Paco Gento is a legend of Spanish football and one of Real Madrid’s all-time greats.
The only man to win six European Cups as a player, Gento was a winger with blistering pace who was one of the world’s best players in the 1960s. He was part of the Spain squad which won the European Championship in 1964, though he didn’t feature in the final following a fallout with the coach. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 88.
10. David Silva
(Image credit: Getty Images)
David Silva was benched by Spain after La Roja lost their opening match at the 2010 World Cup and the former Manchester City midfielder appeared only once more in the rest of the tournament.
But the Canarian still played a huge part in the team’s success, starting five out of six games at Euro 2008 and all six at Euro 2012. Silva opened the scoring in the final against Italy with a header and was named in the Team of the Tournament. He scored 35 goals in 125 caps before retiring from international football in 2018.
9. Carles Puyol
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Carles Puyol was a fearless competitor and an inspirational leader for Barcelona and Spain in an impressive career.
The defender led La Roja’s back line at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup and was named in the Team of the Tournament both times. He scored the winner in the semi-final against Germany in 2010. He missed Euro 2012 through injury, but played 100 times for Spain and always gave absolutely everything.
8. Luis Suarez
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Luis Suarez was nicknamed “the arquitect” by Alfredo Di Stefano in an impressive career with Deportivo La Coruña, Barcelona, Inter, Sampdoria and the Spanish national team.
Suarez remains the only Spanish winner of the Ballon d’Or, having picked up the prize in 1960, and the Galician forward was instrumental as Spain claimed the European Championship four years later. He passed away in 2023 at the age of 88.
7. Raul
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Raul Gonzalez was widely considered Spain’s best-ever player before their three tournament successes between 2008 and 2012.
Unfortunately for the former Real Madrid striker, he did not form part of those triumphs and dispensing with him ultimately allowed Spain to try something different. Before all that, Raul scored 44 goals in his 102 appearances for Spain and was the team’s top scorer until he was overtaken by David Villa.
6. Sergio Busquets
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Sergio Busquets faced criticism from the Spanish media after La Roja lost their opening match of the 2010 World Cup to Switzerland.
Coach Vicente del Bosque responded with staunch defence of his player and the Barcelona midfielder stayed in the team en route to glory in South Africa and at Euro 2012. The Catalan remained important for another decade before announcing his international retirement in 2023.
5. Sergio Ramos
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Sergio Ramos was Spain’s right-back at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, before moving into the centre of defence for club and country.
An inspirational leader for Real Madrid and Spain, Ramos went on to become La Roja’s most-capped player and was one of the few to feature in all three of his nation’s tournament triumphs in 2008, 2010 and 2012.
4. David Villa
(Image credit: Getty Images)
When Luis Aragones decided that Raul would no longer be Spain’s striker in the build-up to Euro 2008, David Villa was the biggest beneficiary.
Villa took Raul’s number seven shirt and made it his own. The former Valencia and Barcelona striker went on to become Spain’s all-time top scorer, hitting four at Euro 2008 and five at the 2010 World Cup. He missed Euro 2012 through injury.
3. Iker Casillas
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Iker Casillas had the knack of saving his team in important moments and the former Real Madrid and Spain captain earned the nickname “San Iker” (Saint Iker).
His save to deny Arjen Robben in the 2010 World Cup final is probably the most famous of all those moments. Casillas won 167 caps in total and kept over 100 clean sheets in those matches. Instrumental in Spain’s success.
2. Andres Iniesta
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Andres Iniesta’s winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands is the greatest moment in the history of Spanish football.
The elegant former Barcelona midfielder could easily top this list. He is one of the greatest midfielders of all time at club and international level, winning it all and contributing some unbelievable moments along the way. Iniesta was named best player as Spain won Euro 2012.
1. Xavi
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Andres Iniesta may have scored the winner for Spain in South Africa, but La Roja’s entire playing style started with Xavi Hernandez in their most successful era.
The former Barcelona midfielder set the tempo with his one-touch passing and clever moment, persistently probing to exploit spaces and open gaps. He scored 13 goals in 133 appearances, but his importance cannot be measured in stats. Named best player at Euro 2008.
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : FourFourTwo – https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/the-best-ever-spain-players
