Real Madrid

. Royal Madrid. Them. The team. The heavyweights of Europe. The Galácticos. The most decorated side in the history of the game, with a name that echoes far beyond the Santiago Bernabéu and into every corner of the footballing world. So, Let’s #GetTheBadgeIn for the most famous club in world football…

Founded in 1902, Real Madrid have become the gold standard in European football. With 36 La Liga titles, 20 Copa del Rey trophies, and a record-breaking 15 UEFA Champions League wins, their silverware collection is unrivalled. Add in 5 FIFA Club World Cups, 6 UEFA Super Cups, and a rich legacy in continental and global competition, and it’s clear: success isn’t just part of their story—it is the story.

Some of the greatest players of all time have worn the white shirt. Alfredo Di Stéfano, the talisman who shaped the club’s dominance in the 1950s; Paco Gento, who holds the record for the most European Cups won by a single player; some chap called Cristiano Ronaldo - the club’s all-time leading scorer; Zidane, Ramos, Modrić—the names read like a greatest hits list of modern football.

But Real Madrid are not just about footballing brilliance—they’re also steeped in royal and political history. In 1920, King Alfonso XIII bestowed the title “Real” on the club, cementing its identity as Spain’s royal team. That royal connection would later become politically loaded during the rule of General Franco, when Madrid came to be seen—fairly or not—as the regime’s chosen side. Their rivalry with FC Barcelona is more than just a sporting contest: it’s a clash of identities. Madrid, the capital and seat of centralised power; Barcelona, the voice of Catalan resistance and autonomy. During the Spanish Civil War Madrid supported the military dictator Franco and Barcelona threw its weight behind the Republican government. Players from both teams served in the military of these rival factions – and were killed in the conflict. Barcelona’s football club’s president was captured and executed by Franco’s men.

These grudges simmered during the Franco era. One of the most controversial moments came with the signing of Di Stéfano, who had been due to sign for Barcelona before negotiations took a strange turn— under some political influence —bringing him to Madrid instead. Then there was the infamous 11–1 victory over Barcelona in 1943, a second-leg cup result still cited in Catalonia as an example of corruption and bias. These two sets of fans really, really do not like each other.

After Franco’s death in 1975, Real Madrid began to shed its image as a symbol of the regime and worked hard to reposition itself as a modern, global club. Crucially, it has remained a socio-owned club—meaning it is not owned by a private investor or company, but by its membership base (socios). Over 90,000 members elect the club president in democratic elections. It is a model that blends elite-level ambition with some accountability—not to be sniffed at in an era of oil-backed billionaire owners.

Real Madrid’s reach now goes far beyond Spain. Their shirt is worn by kids in Cairo, Colombo, Chicago and Casablanca. It’s not unusual to see a Benzema, Vinícius or Bellingham jersey walking down a high street thousands of miles from the Bernabéu. In Dubai they even have their own Theme Park. 

The club has been led by iconic presidents—from Santiago Bernabéu, who rebuilt the club after the war and whose name was given to the stadium, to Florentino Pérez, who launched the Galáctico era, signing global stars like Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo, and Beckham to create, arguabl, the best team of all time. The term "Galácticos" has since become synonymous with Madrid’s strategy of signing the biggest names in football, and continued with players like Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. It's a model that doesn’t always guarantee wins —but it certainly guarantees headlines.