Bernabéu legend says goodbye—Five of the best from Raúl

Real Madrid legend Raúl yesterday called time on his career at the Santiago Bernabéu after a staggering 18 years at the world’s most glamorous football club.

The 33-year-old broke numerous records including the record number of appearances—723 in total—and the all-time top goalscorer with 323 strikes for Real.

The Sport Review takes a look back at five of Raúl’s most important goals for his beloved club.

1. Raúl was famously released by Atlético Madrid following the closure of their youth system in 1992 and bitter rivals Real swiftly secured his signature. His first senior goal for his new employers came against the club he had just left in the 1994 Madrid derby.

2. The Spaniard caught the eye of UK football fans with this finish against Manchester United in the second-leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford in 2000.

3. Real Madrid went on to win the tournament in that season and Raúl scored the goal which sealed Los Blancos’ eighth European cup in a 3-0 win over Valencia.

4. In February 2009 Raúl finally broke fellow Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano’s all-time top goal-scoring record of 307 goals with his second strike against Sporting Gijon.

5. Raúl made his Real Madrid debut during a 3-2 defeat against Real Zaragoza, aged just 17. Fittingly, his final game for his Real side came at La Romerada, and on this occasion he scored a crucial goal before leaving the field injured. The strike was his 323rd and final goal for Real Madrid.