Comparing James Rodriguez to Real Madrid's Great Modern Forwards

Since his sparkling campaign at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, James Rodriguez has become one of the most recognisable faces in world football and one of the game's hottest talents. A player of immense versatility, the Colombian can play as a No. 10, on the wing and in central midfield, his wonderfully diverse skill set making him the most modern of attackers. He is now showcasing his gifts at the Santiago Bernabeu for Real Madrid. 

Yet though his excellence has only demanded the attention of the wider world for little more than 12 months, Rodriguez's progression to his current status has been steady and sustained, his impressive seasons on the smaller stages of Porto and Monaco providing the platform for his explosion in Brazil last summer. 

Now in the Spanish capital, the 24-year-old is already one of Real Madrid's biggest stars after just a single season in white, the Galactico tag sitting comfortably on his shoulders in his debut year of 2014-15. Soon, he'll be the face of the club, too, looking every bit like Cristiano Ronaldo's heir as Real Madrid's leading player and focal point. 

Such a handover will inevitably see Rodriguez's broad and diverse role narrow considerably, and his attacking talents are likely to blossom as a forward rather than a midfielder. So with such a trajectory predicted for him, we've taken a look at how Rodriguez compares to some of Real Madrid's great modern forwards in terms of style, skill set and influence, examining what attributes he shares with some of the club's finest names. 

Note: Here we've defined "modern" as players who've appeared for Real Madrid from 1980 onward. As such, comparisons with esteemed names of Real Madrid's most renowned era of dominance in the 1950s and '60s, such as Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Paco Gento, won't be found here. 

"He was not a 10-out-of-10 in anything, but he was an eight-and-a-half in everything." That sounds a bit like James Rodriguez, doesn't it?

In fact, those words came from Real Madrid great Fernando Hierro when speaking with Sid Lowe for his exceptional Fear and Loathing in La Liga; the former club captain was describing his legendary team-mate, Raul.

Raul, of course, is Real Madrid's all-time record holder for both appearances and goals. In 741 outings for Los Blancos across 16 years, he tallied 323 strikes, winning six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns during a historic tenure at the Bernabeu. 

AFP/Getty Images

Rodriguez will never get anywhere near such totals—Raul made his Madrid debut at 17; James made his at 23—but there are some compelling similarities between the pair in terms of qualities and attributes—the eight-and-a-half thing. 

Though the Colombian's shot doesn't have the thunderous power of a young Cristiano Ronaldo; though his feet are not at the level of Luis Figo's or Zinedine Zidane's; though he lacks the power of Hugo Sanchez, though he's without the searing pace of Paco Gento (I know, we said no pre-1980 comparisons, but you'll have to excuse us for just one); and though his passing can't match Guti's, there's almost nothing that Rodriguez doesn't do well. Every skill he has is exceptional, and he does everything with efficiency and style and grace, without any of it being groundbreaking or revolutionary.

Rodriguez doesn't fall into the "unplayable" category.

Yet despite that, in a sort of Raul-esque manner, the 2014 World Cup sensation has developed a remarkably effective game that can only be described as extremely well-rounded. His touches are neat without being mesmerising; his passing is incisive without being jaw-dropping; his shooting is precise without being net-busting; his work rate is impressive without being extraordinary. What's more, he tracks back, defends, is excellent at set pieces, is unselfish and is easy to coach. He's a sort of ultimate, team-first attacker without being the ultimate at any one thing. 

It's something he shares with a true Real Madrid icon. 

The Colombian, though, will be hard-pressed to ever match the way Raul personified madridismo. "Quantity above quality," said Jorge Valdano, the man who gave Raul his debut in 1994, to Lowe when describing the club's iconic striker, "absolute commitment and endeavour above all else. Utter Professionalism. Every. Single. Day. Of. His. Life. If you wrote a list of Raul's qualities, it would be a list of the values of Real Madrid."

Such a status or legacy may well be out of reach for Rodriguez, but the eight-and-a-half thing still rings true. There's also the similar left boots—the way Madrid's latest No. 10 struck his stunning volley against Granada last season was eerily similar to one from Raul against Deportivo La Coruna almost 10 years earlier.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

But that's perhaps where the similarities end between Rodriguez and Raul. Records, longevity and legacy aside, the former is perhaps a more natural talent than the latter, the revered Spaniard's excellence built on endless graft rather than physical gifts. Raul wasn't what you'd call smooth, elegant or artistic. 

In that sense, in terms of pure aesthetics, James shares more traits with Raul's predecessor, Emilio Butragueno.

Though El Buitre was not nearly as prolific, there was a grace to his play, his game all flair, finesse and silky moves. The way he skipped across the pitch felt effortless, the way he caressed the ball rather than struck it was alluring, and his excellence changed the perception of the ingredients necessary for success. 

Indeed, at just 5'6", Butragueno was hardly a player of imposing stature, but as the leader of his famed "Vulture Squad" helped establish the Spanish way as the way: technique over athleticism, brains over brawn, intricacy rather than force.

That undeniable sense of polish—something demonstrated by his famous goal against Cadiz—is something Rodriguez also possesses, even if his influence can't match that of Butragueno, whose significance went beyond the pitch, the Madrilenian's sense of style and freedom symbolic of a post-Franco Spain. 

James won't go that far, but might he one day match Butragueno's 171 goals for Real Madrid? At just 24 years of age and after only one season, he's already one-tenth of the way there, despite the fact he's still biding his time, waiting to become the focal point. 

JOEL ROBINE/Getty Images

So, certain similarities with Raul and Butragueno: Not bad. But what about others?

In terms of versatility, Rodriguez has a small degree of likeness with Guti. Though the Real Madrid youth product spent the bulk of his career playing in midfield, forging a reputation as an astonishing provider, he showcased another side to his game in 2000-01, playing as a forward under Vicente del Bosque and scoring 18 goals in the process. That capacity to be an attacking hybrid is something Rodriguez shares with Guti. 

Yet that adaptability and diverse skill set have seen Rodriguez's positioning and role remain loosely defined at the Bernabeu thus far. At present, he's a more of a midfielder, an attacking conductor, but his scoring instincts suggest he's a true forward-in-waiting, a guy capable of 20-25 goals a season.

However, the gradual evolution from central option to focal point will mean the Colombian will always retain a penchant for creation—he'll never be a pure finisher. 

In that sense, Rodriguez will always be of contrast to another bunch, the devastatingly lethal ones: Hugo Sanchez, Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo. For sheer weight of goals, if not his goals-to-games ratio, Carlos Santillana might also be thrown into that group. 

GERARD JULIEN/Getty Images

Indeed, Rodriguez will never be the predatory package that was Ronaldo (the Brazilian one), the feisty and prolific weapon that was Sanchez, the aerial maestro that was Santillana or the all-round force that is Ronaldo (the Portuguese one). That type, that style: It's not James. Such men have all been defined by a certain power, their footballing gifts combining with raw athleticism to create a rare sort of animal.

Though Marca once put a Superman logo on his chest, a cape on his back and inflated the muscles in his chest and arms, Rodriguez will never be one of those.  

Yet, what he has in common with all of them is a comfort in carrying the superstar tag (in his case the Galactico tag), as well as a natural ease and clarity of purpose when wearing white, when standing inside the Bernabeu. Twelve months ago he was simply known to the world as a World Cup Golden Boot winner; fast-forward to now, and he's already an instant hit at Real Madrid. Both are significant. 

As this column has pointed out, Rodriguez already looks to be Ronaldo's heir apparent, the man ready to be the face of his club, a player ready to forge a fine reputation for himself at Real Madrid. There are still significant steps to take; the club's pantheon demands unrelenting success, dominance in Europe, dominance in El Clasico, exhibitions of leadership and acceptance of responsibility for the team.

Can Rodriguez take those steps, reach that level, join the aforementioned names? Can he become a great himself?