Soccer won’t be the same when they’re gone. We’ve taken it as a given that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are the poles of the soccer world, but before Lionel Messi rose through Barca’s youth system and before Madrid broke the world transfer record to bring Ronaldo over from Manchester, the balance of power was, well, more balanced. Barcelona won the Champions League in 2009, after seven different clubs lifted the trophy in the eight years prior. In the eight years since, either Barcelona or Madrid has won the Champions League five times.
They’re both living gods, but it won’t be this way forever. So, in honor of the first El Clásico on American soil, we’re adding up their shirt numbers and celebrating the 17 things you need to know about the two best soccer players in the world.
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