Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has recently shared his opinion on who he believes are the top footballers in the game today. In a revealing interview, the iconic goalkeeper was tasked with selecting his ultimate El Clasico XI, choosing between some of the greatest talents from both Real Madrid and Barcelona, including the two football superstars: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Casillas, who is celebrated as one of the finest goalkeepers in the history of Real Madrid, made his debut with the club in 1999. Over his illustrious career at Los Blancos, he played an impressive 725 matches, achieving a remarkable 264 clean sheets across all competitions. His time with Real Madrid was marked by numerous accomplishments, including three UEFA Champions League titles, five La Liga championships, one FIFA Club World Cup, and two UEFA Super Cups, among many other honors. In recognition of his outstanding performances, he was also awarded the title of Goalkeeper of the Season for Real Madrid during the 2007-08 season.
During the interview with GOAL, Casillas was presented with a series of choices between players from both clubs. When asked to choose between Messi and Ronaldo, he confidently selected Cristiano Ronaldo. The conversation continued with other notable comparisons, revealing his preferences for various positions:
- When choosing between Pedro and Gareth Bale, he opted for Bale.
- For the striker position, he favored Karim Benzema over David Villa.
- In the midfield, he picked Ángel Di Maria over Andrés Iniesta.
- Casillas chose Sami Khedira instead of Sergio Busquets, humorously noting that he would be selecting players from Madrid.
- He also went with Luka Modric over Xavi and opted for Fabio Coentrao instead of Eric Abidal.
- In defense, he chose Raphaël Varane over Gerard Piqué and selected Sergio Ramos over Javier Mascherano.
- Finally, for the right-back position, he favored Dani Carvajal over Alves.
Through these selections, Casillas demonstrated not only his deep knowledge of football but also his loyalty to Real Madrid, showcasing the players he holds in high regard from his time in the sport.
