Real Madrid was originally formed as a spin-off of the first football club in Madrid in the 20th century, Sky Football (La Sociedad), which was established in 1897.  Following dissension among Sky’s members regarding the future of the club, Julián Palacios left Sky to found Madrid Club de Fútbol in 1902.  Palacios handed off his control of the club to his colleagues, brothers Juan and Carlos Padrós, who expanded the roots of Real Madrid across the capital of Spain.  As football amassed popularity across Spain in the early 1900s, the Padrós brothers sought to gain approval from the newly crowned Spanish monarch, King Alfonso XIII, whereby they organized the nation’s first Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) in 1903 to honor his coronation.  Madrid Club de Fútbol went on to win four of the first six Spanish Cup competitions, leading to King Alfonso XIII’s avid attraction towards the club.  Thus, the Spanish King decreed Madrid Club de Fútbol a royal label on the squad, hence the team’s current name, Real Madrid.  

Real Madrid has sported white kits with the club’s initials, MCF, stitched into each jersey since their creation in 1902 although its crest has changed over its 123-year history.  Their iconic white shirts have given way to Real Madrid’s famous nicknames over the years, such as “Los Blancos” or “Los Merengues.”  The squad has found repeated success in each decade of its prestigious history, amassing 36 La Liga titles since the league was formed in 1929, 15 UEFA Champions League trophies, and 20 Spanish Cups.  Real Madrid found the beginning of their global presence in the 1950s, having won the European Cup five consecutive times between 1956 and 1960.  Legendary players such as Alfredo Di Stéfano in the 1950s, the five Spanish players nicknamed “La Quinta del Buitre” led by striker Emilio Butragueño in the 1980s, and the formation of the Galácticos in the early 2000s that attracted talents like Luís Figo, Zinedine Zidane, and Cristiano Ronaldo have contributed to Real Madrid’s consistency in possessing the world’s best players.  Along with continuously filling its squad with iconic players, the club has found the ability to reach the upper echelon of European football through its unique ownership structure and team values.  

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Real Madrid is fully owned and operated by its members, as the club is effectively structured as a non-profit organization.  The club’s members, or “socios,” possess voting rights and participate in general elections to determine Real Madrid’s president and board of directors.  The “socios” produce a strong dynamic between the club and its fan base since around 100,000 members can voice their opinions on the club’s decision-making.  Moreover, Real Madrid’s fans are referred to as the Madridistas, who are arguably the most globally present fanbase in all of sports, with around 450 million worldwide.  The Madridistas can be seen in masses at each Real Madrid match, often hollering “Hala Madrid” chants in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.  The club’s tight-knit fanbase and extraordinary on-the-field talent have led to Real Madrid being the world’s most valuable soccer franchise according to Deloitte’s Football Money League 2025, with a valuation of $6.6 billion.  Under the leadership of club president Florentino Pérez, Real Madrid has transformed the team into a global brand that produces $1 billion in revenue annually.  Having won the La Liga and UEFA Champions League over the 2023-2024 season, Real Madrid is largely considered the world’s best club currently.