Raul González Blanco, commonly known as Raul, is one of the most iconic footballers in the game. Born on June 27, 1977, in Madrid, Spain, Raul started playing football at a young age and became a prodigious talent. He spent most of his career playing for Real Madrid and was the club's all-time leading scorer until Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed his record in 2015.

Raul began his career with Atletico Madrid's youth academy, but he was quickly snatched up by Real Madrid's youth program. He made his debut for the club's senior team in October 1994, at the age of 17. In his first full season, he scored 21 goals in all competitions, helping the team win their first league title in four years.

Raul's ability to score crucial goals in big games quickly made him a fan favourite. He scored a brace against Barcelona in the 1996-97 season and netted a hat-trick against Valencia in the following season's UEFA Champions League quarter finals.

In the 1998-99 season, Raul cemented his status as a world-class player. He scored 25 goals in all competitions, leading Real Madrid to the league title and winning the UEFA Champions League, where he scored in the final against Valencia. Raul was also the top scorer in the tournament that season, with 10 goals.

Over the next few seasons, Raul continued to shine for Real Madrid. He won the league title three more times and added another Champions League trophy to his collection in 2002. He was a consistent scorer and a reliable captain, leading by example on and off the field.

Raul's finest season came in 2003-04, when he scored 44 goals in all competitions. He won his third league title as Real Madrid captain and was named the UEFA Best Forward of the Year. He also won the Pichichi Trophy, which is awarded to the top scorer in the Spanish league, for the third time in his career.