Real Madrid

Club History

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol was founded on March 6, 1902, by Juan Padrós and granted royal status by King Alfonso XIII in 1920, adopting the “Real” title and crown. The club won its first La Liga in 1931–32 and, led by Alfredo Di Stéfano in the 1950s, dominated Europe by clinching the first five European Cups (1956–1960). The 1980s Quinta del Buitre era brought five straight league titles, while Florentino Pérez’s Galácticos policy in the 2000s signed global stars like Zidane and Ronaldo, securing the 2002 Champions League. Under Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid won four Champions Leagues in five years (2014–2018), including three consecutively. With a record 36 La Liga titles and 14 European Cups, the renovated Santiago Bernabéu and arrivals like Mbappé in 2024 cement Real Madrid’s status as the world’s most successful and valuable football club.