#5 Karim Benzema (630 appearances)

The Frenchman is a  professional football player who captains the La Liga team Real Madrid and plays as a striker. Benzema is recognized as one of the greatest strikers of all time and is a prolific and imaginative attacker.  He is second all-time in goals scored and assists gave for Real Madrid. At Real Madrid, Benzema has amassed 24 trophies, including five UEFA Champions League championships, two Copa del Reys, and four La Liga championships.

Benzema changed from a false nine to a lone striker in the wake of Ronaldo's departure in 2018. From 2018 to 2022, he received four straight selections to the La Liga Team of the Season. He also won the La Liga Best Player award twice and the Pichichi Trophy for the first time in 2022. As he won his fifth championship in 2022, Benzema finished as the top scorer in the Champions League.

#6 Fernando Hierro (601 appearances)

At his best, Hierro was able to combine strong defensive play with an almost limitless passing range and a startling ability to score goals, making him one of the most sought-after players in the world. Hierro was equally comfortable playing as a central defender, sweeper, or defensive midfielder. In addition to being a big, physically intimidating, and threatening defensive presence, he was renowned for his positional understanding, power in the air, persistence, and capacity to time his challenges properly.

The Times ranked Hierro at number 43 on their list of the 50 toughest football players in history in 2007. Hierro is known for being a fiercely competitive and hard-tackling defender.