Real Madrid power rankings: Vinicius Jr explodes, Gareth Bale crashes

FT Desk

• 11 Apr 2022 15:56 BST
• 3 min read

While Real Madrid's president has tended to plead poverty in recent years when it comes to the club's stature in European football, there's no doubt that Los Blancos can still lay claim to one of the most star-studded teams on the continent.

Whether it be Karim Benzema, Luka Modric or Vinicius Jr, Carlo Ancelotti has undoubtedly put together a squad that can match any on its day.

Which, of course, is exactly why Madrid are still looking so strong both in European and domestic football this late on in the season.

Using in-game data to calculate the performance of ever Real Madrid player, FootballTransfers looks at who is the most improved player in their ranks.

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The most improved Real Madrid players

To the delight of most Madrid fans, most of the club's most improved players are undoubtedly key members of Ancelotti's side.

At the very top of the list is Eder Militao, who has come on +10.8 in the past six months, who is closely follwed by left-back Ferland Mendy and wide forward Vinicius Jr.

Similarly, other key players like David Alaba, Toni Kroos, Thibaut Courtois and Luka Modric have all improved in the past six months too.

Which, undoubtedly comes some way to explaining why Madrid are still on course for a Champions League and La Liga double this season.

The Real Madrid players that have declined the most

Unfortunately, not all of Madrid's players have played their part in the club's success this season and that certainly shows when we consider which players have regressed over the past six months.

The stand-out name is undoubtedly Gareth Bale, whose ability has dropped by -7.7 in the past six months, in no small part due to the lack of games he's had at Madrid in that time.

Just above Bale but certainly just as disapointing is Eden Hazard, who has also missed out on a lot of game time due to recurring injuries.

Other notable stars that have had forgettable seasons are Lucas Vazquez, Isco and Nacho Fernandez, who may all be looking for new clubs when the summer transfer window comes around.

Real Madrid Power Rankings over the past six months