FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

Former Spain captain Fernando Hierro once described his young Real Madrid team-mate Raul as “a Ferrari who is going to overtake us all and break every record in Spanish football”. How right he was. Raul Gonzalez Blanco, who replaced Hierro as captain at both national team and club level, has already cemented his place among the greatest players in world football history.
Raul has spent his entire professional career at Real Madrid, although he only joined Los Blancos when local rivals Atletico de Madrid dismantled their youth set-up. Fate would have it that the young striker’s first Primera Division goal would come against his boyhood club, the team his father supports. Since his debut season as a raw 17-year-old, Raul has played a vital role in his side’s success, his name becoming synonymous with the Real Madrid cause. He has won three UEFA Champions League medals, two Intercontinental Cups, four Primera Liga titles and one European Supercup among other honours during his record-breaking career.

His national team debut came at the age of 19 against the Czech Republic in Prague, in a FIFA World Cup™ qualifier ahead of France 98. Raul was part of the Spanish squad during the tournament, but was powerless to prevent his side’s first-round exit, despite scoring a cracking goal against Nigeria. At UEFA Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands, the young striker would endure yet more heartbreak, missing a crucial last-minute penalty in the quarter-final clash with eventual winners France.

Injury absence
Korea/Japan 2002 was Raul’s second appearance on world football’s biggest stage, and he did not disappoint, scoring three goals in his side’s first four games. A groin injury kept him out of Spain’s decisive quarter-final clash with Korea Republic, forcing him to watch from the sidelines as his team-mates lost on penalties.

Married with four children, Raul is a family man at heart, a shy and retiring individual who celebrates every goal with a trademark kiss of his wedding ring. However, Raul’s personality changes once he crosses that white line, his fierce competitiveness and innate leadership skills are there for all to see. An incredible eye for goal, great technique and tireless work-rate make him a nightmare for any defence.

On 12 February 2003, Raul became the highest scorer in Spanish national team history as he overtook his friend Hierro’s 31-goal total with a hat-trick against Germany. Despite clearly struggling for form last season, Raul’s indefatigable will to win made him a key part of national team coach Luis Aragones’s tactical plans.

© 2001-2006 FIFA, All Rights Reserved

UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

A natural finisher who started out as a midfield player, Raúl González's predatory instincts, unstinting desire and exemplary scoring record mark him out as the golden boy of Spanish football.

National team
Since making his international debut against the Czech Republic in October 1996, Raúl has become Spain's leading scorer of all-time with more than 40 goals. Brilliant in qualifying tournaments, he missed a penalty in the last minute of the UEFA EURO 2000™ quarter-final against France as Spain went home early. Touted as a potential star of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he began well enough, scoring three goals, but a groin injury ruled him out of the quarter-final with the Korean Republic which Spain lost on penalties. The Spanish captain was a central figure in qualifying for UEFA EURO 2004™, appearing in ten games and scoring in both play-off matches against Norway, although he failed to score in the finals in Portugal. Remains a leader under Luis Aragonés.

Club
Born in the capital, Raúl started out with Club Atlético de Madrid. Yet the fact he replaced Real Madrid CF great Emilio Butragueño on his top-flight debut at the age of 17 gave a clear indication of things to come. Raúl is the highest scorer still active in Spain's Primera División, having finished top of the Pichichi charts in 1999 and 2001. He is certainly a big-match performer, having hit the third goal in Madrid's victory against Valencia CF in the 2000 UEFA Champions League final, another in the 2002 final win against Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the clincher against CR Vasco da Gama in the 1998 European/South American Cup. Raúl's form dipped following EURO 2000™ but he rediscovered his touch to finish top scorer in the Champions League for two years running, and won a Spanish championship in 2003. The following season, he had one spell of almost three months without a league goal and scored just twice in the Champions League, though he did sign a new long-term contract.

2004/05: Raúl was not the force of old but was a tireless worker. Scored nine times in the league, including a strike against eternal rivals FC Barcelona in a 4-2 home win on 10 April.

Did you know?
Raúl's contract, which runs until 2010, reportedly has a buy-out clause of €180m.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

A natural finisher who started out as a midfield player, Raúl González's predatory instincts, unstinting desire and exemplary scoring record mark him out as the golden boy of Spanish football.

National team
Since making his international debut against the Czech Republic in October 1996, Raúl's performances for Spain have very much mirrored the nation's fortunes. Brilliant in qualifying tournaments, he missed a penalty in the last minute of the UEFA EURO 2000™ quarter-final with France and Spain went home early. Touted as a potential star of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he began well enough, scoring three goals, but a groin injury ruled him out of the quarter-final with the Korean Republic which Spain lost on penalties.

UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying
The Spanish captain was a central figure in qualifying, appearing in ten games. Raúl struck five times in Group 6 before scoring in both play-off matches against Norway.

Club
Born in the capital, Raúl started out with Club Atlético de Madrid. Yet the fact he replaced Real Madrid CF great Emilio Butragueño on his top-flight debut at the age of 17 gave a clearer indication of things to come. Raúl is the highest scorer still active in Spain's Primera División, having finished top of the Pichichi charts in 1999 and 2001. He is certainly a big-match performer, having hit the third goal in Madrid's victory over Valencia CF in the 2000 UEFA Champions League final, another in the win against Bayer 04 Leverkusen two years later, and the clincher against CR Vasco da Gama in the 1998 European/South American Cup. Raúl's form dipped following EURO 2000™ but he rediscovered his touch to finish top scorer in the Champions League for two years running, adding a Spanish championship in 2003.

2003/04: Managed eleven goals in 35 Spanish league games but went almost three months without a league goal. Raúl scored just twice in the Champions League before Madrid bowed out to AS Monaco FC in the quarter-finals.

Did you know?
Raúl's contract with Madrid runs until 2005 and reportedly has a buy-out clause of €190m.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

BBC's UEFA EURO 2004 player's profile

Spanish superstar Raul began his career at Atletico Madrid before the closure of their youth side forced him to join cross-town rivals Real.

He has gone on to become Spain's most successful footballer.

He has already won four La Liga championships and three Champions League titles as part of the all-conquering Real side.

But Raul's international career has been blighted by poor performances at major tournaments.

However, Spain's greatest goalscorer will again carry the nation's hopes on his shoulders as they bid to win their first international silverware since 1964.

The prolific striker recently pledged his future to Real but was subject to a world record bid of £71.4m from Chelsea.

©bbc.co.uk 2004. All rights reserved.