<p>The historic rivalry between <strong>Barcelona </strong>and <strong>Real Madrid</strong> has often led players to choose either <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a></strong> or <strong>Cristiano Ronaldo</strong> as their favorite, usually reflecting their own identification with one club or the other. However, now a Los Blancos icon has made a notable exception to that trend.</p>



<p>In a recent interview with <em>EDYYN</em>, cited by <em>Mundo Deportivo</em>, <strong>Raul Gonzalez</strong> gave an unexpected take on the GOAT debate:<em><strong>“I have been lucky to play with players like (Zinedine) Zidane, Cristiano (Ronaldo), Ronaldo (Nazario), Figo… but I think Messi is the best, he is very different.”</strong></em></p>



<p>The names Raul mentioned are significant. All of them are former <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/real-madrid">Real Madrid</a></strong> players with whom he shared the field during his 21-year professional career. Yet, when asked who he considers the best, he chose the <strong>Barcelona </strong>icon.</p>



<p><em><strong>“He makes everything look easy; things you think are impossible, he makes them look simple,</strong></em>” Raul explained when justifying his choice of Messi over all the other players he has seen in his life.<em><strong> “It’s as if he’s playing with his friends on the street.”</strong></em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20260101_WST_613136_raul-ronaldo_26e5b256.webp&amp;width=1920&amp;height=1080" alt="" class="wp-image-613138"></figure><figcaption>Raul Gonzalez and Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Real Madrid.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Raul Gonzalez is a Real Madrid legend</h2>



<p>These words about Lionel Messi carry particular weight given who is speaking. Raul Gonzalez is not just a former Real Madrid player; he is one of the club’s greatest legends. </p>


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<p>He spent 16 seasons with Los Blancos, from his debut in 1994 until his departure to <strong>Schalke 04 </strong>in 2010. During that time, the forward played 741 matches, scoring 323 goals and providing 115 assists, winning 16 titles—including three <strong>UEFA Champions League </strong>trophies and six La Liga titles.</p>



<p><strong>Raul is the third-highest scorer in Real Madrid history</strong>, behind only <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a></strong> and<strong> Karim Benzema</strong>. He is also the player with the most appearances in the club’s history, surpassing<strong> Iker Casillas.</strong></p>



<h2>Raul saw Messi up close</h2>



<p>Although they belong to different generations, Raul and Messi shared a brief period in <strong>La Liga</strong>. Between Messi’s debut in 2004 and Raul’s departure in 2010, they faced each other eight times in El Clasico. Barcelona won five of those matches, Real Madrid two, and one ended in a draw.</p>



<p>Raul was a starter in that legendary 2007 match where Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid in a 3-3 draw at Camp Nou, arguably Leo’s first major professional showcase.</p>



<p>In his final season with Los Blancos, Raul was teammates with Cristiano Ronaldo, who had just arrived from <strong>Manchester United</strong>. Before leaving for Schalke 04 and passing on his iconic No. 7 shirt, Raul faced Messi twice alongside Ronaldo—both games ended in Barcelona victories.</p>

‘Messi is the best,’ claims former Cristiano Ronaldo teammate and Real Madrid legend

‘Messi is the best,’ claims former Cristiano Ronaldo teammate and Real Madrid legend - World Soccer Talk

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<p>Schalke needs a new manager, and former player Raul is leading the way to be the next boss of the German side. The Spaniard spent a pair of seasons in Germany with Schalke after his record-breaking stint with Real Madrid. He was in the squad the last time Schalke won a major trophy. Now, though, he is the favorite to coach Schalke in what has become the darkest time in the storied club’s history.</p>



<p>Last week, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/schalke-sacks-13th-manager-in-5-years-after-demoralizing-defeat/">Schalke sacked head coach Karel Geraerts</a>. Despite picking up a win in the side’s first 2. Bundesliga match of the season, Schalke has amassed a mere one point in the five games since then. As a result, Schalke is in the relegation zone after six games, and dropping into the 3. Liga is a legitimate prospect. Jakob Fimpel is overseeing the team on an interim basis, but Schalke wants to bring Raul in on a permanent job.</p>



<p>Raul is one of the future candidates to be the head coach of Real Madrid. With the side currently under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, Raul has served as the head coach of the Real Madrid reserves since 2019. Raul has had success with Real Madrid Castilla. The reserve team narrowly missed out on promotion to the second tier of Spanish soccer. He has played down talk of becoming the next Real Madrid manager in the past, but there is reason for <a href="https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/trainer-suche-bei-s04-gut-fuer-schalke-raul-will-weg-aus-spanien-66f412816c08f722d31c73f9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">him to want to leav</a>e.</p>



<p>Schalke executives flew to Spain this week, but <a href="https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/es-ist-wirklich-wahr-fc-schalke-04-beschaeftigt-sich-mit-trainer-raul-66f29e79e8245318f768737c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BILD</a> is reporting that had nothing to do with meeting with Raul, at least according to the club. However, the club is starting to prepare plans for the future.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240928_WST_532078_Raul-Real-Madrid-Castilla-1200x675_bff442d3.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-532098" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Raul-Real-Madrid-Castilla-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Raul-Real-Madrid-Castilla-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Raul-Real-Madrid-Castilla-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Raul-Real-Madrid-Castilla-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Raul-Real-Madrid-Castilla.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Raul tops Schalke list of coaches, but others remain available</h2>



<p>Schalke is not the only team that wants to bring Raul to Germany as a coach. Hoffenheim is a popular name that is in the mix for Raul. Current coach Pellegrino Matarazzo is on the hot seat after a sluggish start to the season. The American has guided the side to just one win in Hoffenheim’s first four games in the German top flight. Despite helping Hoffenheim to European qualification last season, the club may be looking to make an early change.</p>



<p>In that case, Raul would have to decide between his former club and the club that is currently in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim, at least in the immediate sense, is the better job. Yet, Schalke is indisputably one of the biggest clubs in Germany. Raul could be the one to guide the team back to success and Bundesliga relevance.</p>



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<p>Should that not happen, Schalke has already lined up backup options. One of those is current interim manager Jakob Fimpel. Depending on how well Fimpel does in his first game as head coach against Prussia Munster, the club may stick with him for the coming season. Another option is the current head coach at Alemannia Aachen, Heiner Backhaus. Backhaus is a Schalke supporter, and he is in the second season with Alemannia Aachen. He led the side back to the 3. Liga after promotion in 2023/24.</p>



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<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Spanish legend Raul tipped to lead Schalke from dark days

Schalke is in need of a new manager, and former player Raul is leading the way to be the next boss of the German side.

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‘Messi is the best,’ claims former Cristiano Ronaldo teammate and Real Madrid legend

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Spanish legend Raul tipped to lead Schalke from dark days