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Spanish and Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez after signing for Qatari side Al Sadd. By Doha Stadium Plus Qatar –

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Ra煤l Gonz谩lez

The Spanish football manager Ral Gonz谩lez Blanco, also known as Ral, was a forward in his playing days. He now serves as the head coach of Real Madrid Castilla, the La Liga club’s development squad. One of the best players of his day was known as Ral.  However, here are the top remarkable facts about Ra煤l Gonz谩lez

1. His career began at his local team CD San Crist贸bal de las 脕ngeles

Ral’s professional career began with his hometown team CD San Crist贸bal de Los Angeles, where he played for their Alevn squad one season and the Infantil the following. He joined the Infantil squad of Atl茅tico Madrid, and the next year, he played for the Cadete squad, which won the national championship. Ral joined Real Madrid’s Cadete team in La F谩brica after Atl茅tico’s then-president Jess Gil decided to dismantle their young program as a cost-cutting measure. He played for their Juvenil B and Juvenil A teams after being moved up to the Juvenil C team the following year.  

2. He won the Dallas Cup

Ra煤l wore the #7 shirt for Real Madrid between 1996 and 2010. By Juan Fern谩ndez –

The Dallas Cup has historically been one of the most significant youths soccer competitions for identifying future talent. Since its inception in 1980, the competition has hosted several noteworthy U-13 to U-19 athletes who eventually went on to play professionally in some of the top leagues in the world. However, while with the Real youth set-up, Ra煤l won the Dallas Cup in 1993 and 1994.

3. He was sponsored by Adidas

Throughout his career, Ral has been sponsored by the German sportswear brand Adidas and has starred in Adidas advertisements.  He has promoted Adidas Predator football boots, and in a 2004 advertisement for the brand, he appeared alongside several other celebrities riding mopeds, including David Trezeguet, Michael Ballack, Alessandro Del Piero, Zinedine Zidane, and Michael Ballack. 

4. He featured in Pepsi commercials

Ral has appeared in Pepsi advertisements, notably one for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan when he lined up alongside stars like Gianluigi Buffon, Roberto Carlos, and David Beckham to compete against a team of Sumo players. 

5. FIFA 18 has his customary goal celebration, which involves kissing his wife’s ring finger

Ra煤l in his last match with Real Madrid against Real Zaragoza, By Campeones 2008 –

Ra煤l  features in EA Sports’ FIFA video game series. His regular goal celebration of kissing the ring finger which is a show of affection to his wife appears in FIFA 18.

Ral has always kissed his wedding band as part of his goal celebration to honor his wife Mamen Sanz, with whom he was married in 1999 and has four children: Jorge, Hugo, twins H茅ctor and Mateo, and Mara.

5. His style of playing

Ral is recognized as one of the best and most reliable forwards of his time since he is a prolific goal scorer and a highly creative forward. He played the majority of his club and international career while donning the number 7 jersey. He could play everywhere in the front line, but his primary position was as a center-forward or a supporting striker. He could also play as a number 10 behind the forwards, and during the 1996鈥�97 season, manager Fabio Capello even deployed him out of position as a left winger.  Ral was a speedy, left-footed player with a strong shot who liked to score from chipping and was capable of scoring both inside and outside of the penalty area. He was proficient technically, had great ball control, and was strong in the air. 

6. He was the first player to score 50 goals in the Champions League

Ra煤l playing for Al Sadd in 2012, By Doha Stadium Plus Qatar –

When he scored in a 2-1 group stage victory over Olympiacos on September 28, 2005, he became the first player to score 50 goals in the Champions League and the first to make 100 appearances in the tournament. Since the competition’s renaming, he was also the first player to score in two Champions League finals, doing so in the games against Valencia in 2000 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

 7. He is the fifth-highest goalscorer in the history of La Liga

With 228 goals, Ral ranks fifth all-time in La Liga goals scored. With 256 goals scored throughout all European leagues, he also holds the record for most goals scored by a Spanish player (228 in La Liga and 28 in the Bundesliga). With 550 games played, he also has the third-most appearances in La Liga history. With 71 goals, he has appeared in the fifth-most games in Champions League history and is the fifth-highest goalscorer overall. One of just 18 players who have played 1,000 matches in his career, he has also played 1,000 games overall. 

8. He was named the top international goalscorer in the world by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics

Ra煤l executing a bicycle kick for Real Madrid in 2009, By Jan S0L0 –

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) is a group that keeps track of association football’s past and achievements.  Alfredo P枚ge established it in Leipzig in 1984. The IFFHS had its headquarters in Abu Dhabi for a while before moving to Bonn, Germany, in 2010 and subsequently to Z眉rich in 2014. 

In 1999, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics declared Ral the highest international goalscorer in the world.

10. He has received many awards and honors

Ra煤l in his last season with Real Madrid,By Jan S0L0 –

Ral finished second in the 2001 Ballon d’Or and third in the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year.  He was included in the UEFA list of the 50 greatest European players from 1954 to 2004 as well as the FIFA 100 list of the finest living players in the world in 2004. In 1997, 1999, and 2000, he was a member of the European Sports Media Team of the Year. He also received five Don Bal贸n Awards (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002), two Pichichi trophies (1999 and 2001), the UEFA Champions League’s top goalscorer title (2000 and 2001), the top player honor at the FIFA World Cup, and one Best Player Award.