Summary
Real Madrid has seen legends like Zidane, Kroos and Modric grace their midfield.
Some players struggle to meet expectations due to the weight of the Madrid jersey.
One Los Blancos flop claimed to be better than the Zidane, Modric and Kroos in stunning admission.
To play for Real Madrid, you have to be one of two things. Either, you're one of the very best in your position and are a ready-made star capable of handling the pressure of playing for one of the biggest sides in club football. If not, you have to be a young talent whose potential is undeniable and could become the face of the franchise as you mature and turn into a future superstar.
There are rare instances where both can be the case. A player who still has years before he reaches his peak, already showing signs that he is at the very top of the game, even with room to improve. That is a dream scenario for any club, including Los Blancos. All that has to happen is they must live up to the hype.
That is exactly the sort of pressure that James Rodriguez found himself under when he joined the club following his incredible 2014 World Cup campaign. Unfortunately, history would show that the Colombian did not become all he hoped to be in the Spanish capital. Yet, despite largely being considered a flop, the playmaker still has an incredible amount of confidence in his abilities and even claimed to be better than some of the greatest midfielders who have ever put on the famous white jersey.
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Rodriguez Claimed to be Better Than Zinedine Zidane
The Colombian star was full of confidence when discussing how he compared to Madrid greats
During an appearance on Spanish television show El Chiringuito, Rodriguez was asked for his opinion on how he compared to several midfield greats of the 20th century. Styled in a winner stays on format, the 33-year-old was asked who was better between he and former boss and Madrid legend, Zinedine Zidane. His response appeared to even shock the interviewer, who took a moment after the Colombian answered by saying:
"Zidane was very good, at his peak he won the World Cup, but... in their prime? James."
The questions progressed as Rodriguez was also asked how he compared to both Toni Kroos and Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric, with the former Porto youngster unwavering in his assertions that he was better than both of his former teammates. He continued this trend when asked about World Cup-winning midfielder Xavi but refused to pick himself over the man who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, Andres Iniesta.
Despite claiming to be better than all three of Zidane, Kroos, and Modric, Rodriguez did have the humility to admit that the Frenchman was his idol growing up and could understand why his former coach preferred to line up with the other two midfielders in big games instead of himself.
"Zidane has always been my idol. Sometimes he would train with us and he had more quality than us. I had nothing against him, I wasn't upset as people said, but he found a great team that I didn't fit into," the ex-Everton man explained.
"I played with him, but in the important matches he would put Kroos, Casemiro and Modric in."
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Rodriguez's Real Madrid Career
The attacking midfielder failed to live up to expectations
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After his impressive 2014 World Cup display, where he even managed to score one of the greatest goals in the tournament's history, Rodriguez secured a dream move to the Bernabeu from Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco on a deal believed to be worth £62 million.
Despite the promise and the hefty investment placed on him, injuries and inconsistency marred the Colombian's development, and he never truly cemented his place as a focal point in the Madrid squad. He wasn't helped by the fact that the spots out wide were taken up by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, while he was complete enough as a midfielder to dislodge the likes of Modric and Kroos.
In terms of trophies, Rodriguez's spell in Madrid was at least fruitful as he picked up two Champions League and two La Liga titles. He would also find success during a two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich, where game time was slightly easier to come by, but the Colombian did not do enough for the Bavarians to purchase him on a permanent basis. He would eventually swap sunny Spain for Merseyside as he linked up with Carlo Ancelotti at Everton in 2020.
James Rodriguez's Real Madrid Statistics
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All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt - accurate as of 20/03/2025.