In the summer before the 1953 season, 27-year-old Alfredo Di Stefano had established himself as the golden goose of world football. Then a star for Colombian side Milianaros, Di Stefano was already a legend in South America. After making his debut for River Plate at age 19, he would become the top goal scorer in their title-winning season two years later. The “Saeta Rubia” – Blonde Arrow – was cementing his identity as a winner.

In the summer of ’53, after being extensively courted by both Barcelona and Real Madrid, Di Stefano decided on the capital city as his next home town. His signing for Madrid was so controversial that many Barcelona fans still accuse Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco of using his influence to send the prized Argentinian to the Bernabeu. Why are Barcelona fans still so enraged over this seemingly insignificant controversy? The answer is simple: Alfredo Di Stefano went on to become the greatest player in Real Madrid’s history and – as some Madridistas would argue – the greatest player of all time.

In the eleven seasons Di Stefano played for the club, he won eighteen trophies, scoring 308 goals along the way.

The Argentinian won the Balon d’Or in ’57 and ’59 and then the Super Balon d’Or in ’89 – a special award given to him for his outstanding achievements in football.

Alfredo Di Stefano enabled Madrid to play the kind of football that redefined the game. In an age where tactics were rudimentary and creativity was discouraged, Di Stefano stood out. Michel Platini emphasized his influence saying, “Di Stéfano was superb technically, possessed outstanding speed, and was a splendid goalscorer. Together with his talented team-mates, he helped invent modern football. He embodied all that is magical about football."

Technically, Di Stefano was a total footballer whose physicality, skill, and ingenuity could have dominated at any position on the field.

Summarizing Di Stefano’s brilliance, Sir Bobby Charlton said of him, “It was as though he had set up his own command center at the heart of the game. He was as strong as he was subtle. You just could not keep your eyes off him.”

The “Gale of the Cantabrian”