“Raul continues being one of the best although many players came....Raúl and Zidane is in connection between yield and quality, Beckham not yet, but they are players with more years and more experience ” Johan Cruyff in Libredirecto.com the Sept. 18, 2003

"All we know what represents Raul not only for his team, but also for football" David Trezeguet in AS the may 8, 2003

"The golden ball (Ballon d'Or) balloon I will give it to Raul with all the goals whichhe scored.. He is incredible.. I likes him because he is generous, he always plays for the team, never for him. He scores many goals, gives some goals and He runs everywhere." Pavel Nedved in Marca 26 april /2003

"We knew Raul well, but Ferguson and me discovered new Raul yesterday, a different Raul. Why? Because it is not easy to read a match as well, to show as much intelligence. His capacity to develop his football/soccer next to as much people whith creation as Figo, Zidane and Ronaldo only is within reach of a chosen one. And that he is[... ] The movements of Raul are fantastic. To me, aside from both goals and of their delivery, He fascinated to me, I reiterate, and I believe that it's the great newness of this year, it's the interpretation of the game. His dominion of the game allows to know how him to always choose the precise option, the suitable election. For example: He knows to see Figo. If Luis changes of band, he goes away to the other, if Ronaldo enters, he leaves, and his understanding with Zidane is formidable. His virtue is based in being always near all, with which Madrid maintains the balance and the efficiency. And that is not simple. In the first half-time, they gave us a course of soccer magic" Carlos Queiroz after Real Madrid -MU in AS 10 april 2003

"Raul is so difficult to play against when he starts taking up the positions he did tonight...We know Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo are great players but we could have handled that. Raul was very difficult ...My only hope is that he doesn't like travelling. Failing that, we will stop him coming into the country for the second leg...Real Madrid have bought some great players over the last few years but, at the moment, Raul is the best in the world." Alex Ferguson 10 april 2003 in soccerage.com

"He's my favorite forward, he has a killer instinct”. Fabio Capello in Four Four Two an english magazine

"He is a decisive player outwards and in the penalty area, he is a player who has much talent" Hugo Sanchez in Four Four Two an english magazine

"I always admired him”. Maldini - i think it's Cesare who said that but i'm not sure it's maybe his son - in Four Four Two an english magazine

"I don't know why the spanish players do not triumph in Italy, perhaps by the change of mentality or the pressure which exists..though they are not truths "aces" who came in Italy. I am sure that if Raul came in an important team to Italy, He would triumph" Paolo Maldini 02 april 2003 in soccerage.com

"Ronaldo or Raul? Both they are great players, but I remain with Raul before with Ronaldo ..[...] I recognize that I will like that very much to play against Raul " Makaay , player in Deportivo La Corogne, 20 march 2003 in Marca

"The standard of Real Madrid is Raul. We was analyzed him, and is necessary to be attentive constantly with him. Raul is the player I like more in his team, over all " Victor , player in Deportivo La Corogne 19 march 2003 in AS

"At the moment, he is one of the great of the current time. He is crossing very good years and he is a number one by his mobility, his capacity to score and, mainly, and is what it surprises me, because he stay more than five years at an extraordinary level...[...] Raul is a "monster", he has much talent, there is no doubt but it is very early still for comparing him to Di Stefano . " Pelé in Marca 18 march 2003

"Raul is a key player for us, he is a leader, a "prodigy". Although he is young, he is our chief on the ground and one of those who contaminates the others." Roberto Carlos, player in Real Madrid, in spanish paper Marca 14 march 2003

"The perfomance of Raul against Milan AC does not surprise me , coming from him it is normal, he is always there when the team needs some. He played a great match and each day he is exceeded, we get along perfectly, and it's a pleasure for me to play with him. He deserves the "Ballon d'or" and if he stays in this level, he has many chances to conquer it" Ronaldo, in spanish paper AS, le 13 march 2003

"For me the next Ballon d'or will be Raul. Are you surprise ? Raul is the best." Marco Van Basten, who won 3 "ballon d'or" (Golden ball), to a journalist of Marca, spanish paper, the 11 march 2003

"Raul is already a symbol of Madrid and its history. Raul is the natural heir of Butragueño in Madrid. He started at the moment there was generational change, when the "Quita del Buitre" was finishes ...It is pleasant to me that somebody as Raul reaches these numbers because I know perfectly that he is going to us to happen to all and I believe, and I hope, that his sporting life will give the opportunity to him to exceed the largest myth of the history of the madridismo : Alfredo Di Stefano[... ]Raúl is a total soccer player... is more than a nine.... He is more than a nine, his talent leads him to produce a football beyond the penalty area. He is not the striker type which I could be, he is more than that. About Raúl, and by using a term which is employed here in South America, I would say that he is a nine and half.Neither a forward nor an offensive milfielder... It remains to see when they will give him the Gold Balloon. I am not explained how we did not see it yet with this trophy between the hands. I delighted that it is on the way. One day will have to arrive this reward" Hugo Sánchez , 02 march 2003 en AS, after that Raul surpassed the numbers of goles of the Mexican when he was in Madrid

"the "Ballon d'or" 2002 , I would not have given it to Ronaldo. A "Ballon d'or" must be the elected official of a whole season. For me, Raul was above. For its smoothness, its technique, its physical qualities, he was my number one" Johan Cruyff in french paper l'Equipe the 25 februrary 2003

"On my return of China, after having seen the results of the remainder of the international friendly matches, I could inform me of the new "title" of Raúl. With his two goals against Kahn (what makes us a common point ) he is already the best striker of the history of the Spanish selection, above Di Stefano and Butragueno and all last glories. A "title" moreover to increase the prize list of Raúl, which does not astonish me that at his 25 years old he is already so large. It is an honor for me to have him like fellow-member and I gets along perfectly with him in attack " Ronaldo in his website 14 february 2003

"Qu'est-ce qu'apporte un joueur de football argentin à une équipe ? Je crois que si une équipe veut gagner des titres il doit avoir un joueur argentin. Ce joueur de football se caractérise par son envie de gagner, pour mettre tout dans chaque ballon et jouer comme s'il était dans une finale. Pour moi, Raúl est un joueur argentin.Il a le caractère de beaucoup de joueurs de mon pays. Quand le match est endormie, il le réveille" Carlos Aimar , entraineur argentin, le 13 february 2003 dans Marca

"I have seen the goals of Raul against Germany and I am really very happy of him. He is demonstrating that he t is a great scorer and at 25 years old he has surpassed Fernando Hierro - who scored 29 goals with the team of Spain -, at the most scorer of the Spanish selection. To have scored 31 goals in 59 matchs with Spain is something really important. Raul is going to be the most important scorer of Spanish soccer, it's withtout doubt for me. He has everything to become that reference in all time Spanish soccer. I have always talked about Raul like a a great soccer player. Raul has future and years for aspiring to the Golden Ball, but really for me there are two players who have deserved this award and that has not obtained it. One is Raul and the other is Franco Baresi, because I believe that a soccer player as the Italian defender who has not gained it for me it'ss a shame. These are for me the most important players that they have not been recognized with the maximum award in european soccer .Raúl is a so great player that I believe that he has learned something of all the coach whom he had in his sport race. I believe that the most important thing that I think that I left him is the work mentality, and from the distance I dare to say that he is doing it everything of a fantastic form" Fabio Capello 13 february 2003 in Libredirecto.com

"Golden ball (Ballon d'or) 2002 ? I will to give it to Raúl, and I say it since a long time. Like He is 25 years old we says this year not, next year same, next year same... and him he deserves it. For me Raúl deserved a Golden Ball. Also I must understand that there are players like Robert Carlos, what contributes yet, reason why do, for the years that he made, Zidane, Figo, that already has it also..If we could give 4 or 5 Golden ball that will be more easy" Fernando Hierro 06 december 2002 in Ideal digital

<<Thierry Henry admires a lot the forward of Real Madrid Raul. Henry doesn't understand why the Spaniard has not yet won le Ballon d'Or. He was asked on this matter in Clairefontaine, the place where the French NT gathers before their matches, here's what he said:" It's bizarre because sometimes, when i watch these awards of the end of the year, and I emphasize on the word "year" and I see some players that are being nominated, I have nothing to say, I am puzzled to say the least. I am waiting and I will see. When I see that Raul has never won le Ballon d'Or, it's a little bit....How is that possible? For me, as a footballer, it's strange to see someone like Raul who's never won it. He has won the title in Spain, the Champions League, the Intercontinental Cup. He is one of those who always scores in the finale, etc...Maybe it is due to the fact that Raul doesn't express himslef much outside of the football pitch, in the media or something? But the most important and the bottom line is on the field I believe.">> Thierry Henry on www.football365.fr the 19 november 2002

"For the golden ball, Raul won everything, he conquered many titles while being very young, but the golden ball and trophy FIFA are given by the influences of the trade marks" Hristo Stoikov in Marca the 19 november 2002

"who I will give the golden ball ? I will give it to Raul" Marcello Lippi sur soccerage le 04 november 2002

"I will give the golden ball to Raul or to Roberto Carlos " Totti dans AS le 29 october 2002

"Raul is the Real Madrid and Real Madrid is Raul" Emilio Butragueno in AS 12 october 2002

"who I will give the golden ball ? Raul, of Real Madrid, he deserves it more than all the others" Roberto Baggio in soccerage 09 october 2002

"This time it's the turn of Raul to have the golden ball " Vicente Del Bosque , Real Madrid's coach 20 september /2002 in Libredirecto

"Raúl knows well what it means to “make a difference” because at only 25 years of age, he has been European champion already three times and in all occasion he made the difference. He is already the symbol, the key player of the team. Raúl, I would like to thank you and the rest of the team for welcoming me I have long desired to play for Real Madrid " Ronaldo in his website the 11 september 2002

"an honor to played against Raul, the best player of the world" Fortune , south africa's player in the spanish paper Marca the 12 june 2002

"Raul is one of my favourite players because I've always preferred strikers who can drop into spaces like we used to do with Eric Cantona.Raul does that for Real Madrid and he's been doing it all his career. Marvellous football brain. "He's not lightning quick but he has a quick brain that makes up for any lack of pace - and he's a wonderful finisher." 19 april 2001 Sir Ferguson, planetfootball.com

"Raul is a great player who, very young, beat records and he will beat some others. He has a facility to score that not all people has and that not a lot of people will never have." Mendieta in libredirecto.com 18 april /2002

"AURÉLIE (Webmastrice's note : yes i ask one question about Raul to the great Alfredo Di Stefano in a libredirecto.com's chat ..It's here in spanish) question : Do you think that Raul can become a legend like you in Real Madrid? ..............answer : He is on the way. He's a great player with a great charisma, a striker and a collective player. He showed it in Madrid and in selection. He has a character of winner" Di Stéfano 7 march 2002 on libredirecto.com

"The possibilities that have Raul are infinite and I think that he will contribute to the top of Real Madrid and the Spanish selection." Di Stéfano le 07 march 2002 libredirecto.com

"With his mentality of winner he pushes us always upwards " Roberto Carlos

"the golden ball 2001, I would have given it to Raul. He is a complete forward. He does not score only important goals... he score beautiful goals which I would have liked scored. Moreover, he can also played in the medium of the field while being also unbalancing." Javier Saviola in january 2002

"The last one was given to Owen, who is a great player, but for me I would have given it to Raul, he scored many goals and seems to get younger every year." Juan Sebastian Veron, Machester united's player in planetfootball 09 january 2002

"Michael Owen had a great end of season, whereas Raul already long ago who deserved to have win the Golden Ball. Why they have not granted it? It is a mystery. He is the player in active-duty who has won more titles. All of great quality and importance. And he is only 24 years old. He won several national championship, several europeans cups, the Intercontinental ... It is evident that for some that it is not enough. At the moment it happens him like Baresi, always between the favorites to win and never took it in the end. Let us hope that it does not happen to him the same " Fabio Capello in Libredirecto the 07 january 2002

"The golden ball (ballon d'or) I would have given it to Raul and in classification they would be Rivaldo and Figo" Francesco Totti in Marca 02 january 2002

"Who is the best forward of the world? For me Raul, whom he had to be the gold ball. As front he is in all the sites, the suitable moment and to the right hour. Raul fulfills all the requirements to be the best player and I do not share the opinion to give it to Owen. I had occurred it, deservedly to Raul" Diego Tristan in marca 04 january 2002

"I am not in agreement with France Football's classification . Personally, I would have given it to Raul, and I would have placed (Andrei) Shevchenko in the top five." 19 december 2001 Rossoneri's coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"I do not understand because Raul always remains near won the title with all the things that is doing. With the goals that always put, with the titles that it has conquered... I do not understand because it does not win, but this never decides the trainers; it decides the journalists. " Fabio Capello in Libredirecto.com 17 december 2001

"Personally I've always admired Raul and I have the impression nobody speaks about him the way they should. He's 26 ( Webmatrice's note : Raul was 24 years old at this time ) and he has already scored close to 130 goals for Real Madrid. Every year, he strikes 25 and I don't feel he's considered for what he's really worth. I wonder whether you must be performing well on the pitch or show your face on TV to be considered a star,When I look at the stats -- 15 goals in 14 league matches, six goals in seven Champions League games -- it's frightening," Thierry Henry in l'Equipe , French paper,13 december 2001

"Raul deserves the "ballon d'or" (golden ball) 2001" Henry et Pires on canal +, French Tv, after the match against Juventus Turin in champion's league the 04 december 2001........... like Hristo Stoikov, Javier Saviola, Capello, Carlo Ancellotti, Andrei shevchenko , Steve McManaman, Makelele, Rivaldo, Figo, Mendieta, Helguera etc......

"Q - What can you reveal about Raul; do you think he is he worth to be awarded "Golden Ball"?
A -Yes, I am sure he deserves it; he is an excellent player and never fails to convert a scoring opportunity." Zinédine Zidane in dailysoccer 08 december 2001

"Raul is very powerful. He is perfectly prepared functionally, is psychologically resistant and has fantastic technique. I always follow the Spanish championship matches and do not stop every time admiring that forward, as every time he demonstrates something new. No doubt, it's a great player.
If Raul is elected the best player in the world by FIFA then I would be in agreement with the decision. its not easy playing for Real Madrid and especially at the level that he demonstrates in each match" Edson Arantes Do Nacimiento , Pelé 02 december 2001

"With his winner-mentality he always can push us ahead." R.Carlos (Real Madrid)

"Raul is a leader on the pitch and I admire his ability to carry a team on his shoulders. He is the born winner, who lives football in an extraordinary intensity. Its easy to understand him and I think we can do big together. Privately, he is an extraordinary human being, and a big help for me to fit in the new city and the new team." Figo (Real Madrid)

"For me, Raul is one of better forwards of the world. This places always well on the land, feels when a defense or a midfield player overflows, feels where the ball arrived, I believe that it has calls that estan "mortal". This its force." Claude Makelele in TV Canal + 03 april 2001

"Whenever it plays in its head is only the goal, it is the essence of its soccer. Figo and he are two players who whenever they do something, you rise of the seat " Thierry Henry 25 june 2000

"This goal returns to the best player of the Real Madrid that reunited technical and to intelligence and in spite of one some fatigue since he has been judicioso and on the other hand, with its right foot. Not this its better foot." Aimé Jacquet, win the world cup with France, in Canal + the 24 may 2000.

"Raul is of the best ones of Europe and incarnates the spirit of Real Madrid. He is like Matthaus for us" Franz Beckenbauer 09 may 2000

"If Raul had been born in Brazil, he would be a regular with the national side. No question." Rivaldo, February 2000.

"He makes a great passage in its race as scorer . He does not take part only in the play, but that is made notice marking and, mainly, with important goals. They have not many players like him. He is a complete player, who knows to defend and to remove his talent to attack. It has capacity to lead and much personality. "Hugo Sanchez 18 april 2000 in Marca

"He is the best one of Spain and Europe... after me (between laughter). He is young and in spite
of its youth he accumulates an enormous quality that he could to increase. In the European, Raul can be the protagonist and bring Spain very far. I don't know personnaly but he seems to me a great boy" Christian Vieri 18 april 2000 in Marca

"I have followed to him when he was young. He playing well and this young player want to try to
arrive far. He is a very complete player, it fights and it runs. Also he gives assists and
scores goals." Puskas, a legend of Real Madrid the 18 april 2000 in Marca

"He is an excellent person and an extraordinary player. he puts goals with facility, although
also it depends, a little, of the chance, few times he can play a great match while not scoring.
But of all ways, in spite of to have played in the milfield'postition , he is always outstanding
by his facet's finisher. He has much future and, in sipt of his youth, he has great
experience." Zarra, best scorer in all the time in Spanish championship, 18 april 2000 in Marca

"Raul is a top-player. A good converter, a superb scorer; very clever, very attentative, very asute."
He scores his goals like a flash. Noone can stop his dribblings." Bobby Robson

"He's one of these players, that can decide a game on their own. Raul is above-averaged well in all competitions." J.A.Camacho (2000)

"He has leading-qualities, has a very strong personality and all this although he's still very
young. Nevertheless he knows how handle with the pressure on the pich and outside of it. At the moment he's the true leader of Real Madrid" Lorenzo Sanz (2000)

"You can never always stop a player of his class" Ottmar Hitzfeld (2000)

"Raul is one of the best footballers not only in Europe but also in the world. He's a very variable
player. He can play as a pure striker, or behind the strikers in the midfield. He has a superb technique, a very elegant handling of the ball and a fantastic striking-technique, everything what a striker needs.He loves the ball which is like a toy for him." Berti Vogts (2000)

"Raul has a strong personality. He is a great player. In the last years he has shown that he's one of the best footballers in the world." Zinedine Zidane (2000)

"Raul is a classy player, whos the ability to score nice and many goals, as hes shown in Spain in the last season. I have played against him in the last season, and I have to say this was a very impressingperformance by him." Taribo West (1999)

"Raul is the nightmare for a goalkeeper " S.Canizares (Valencia)

"When he appears infront of you, you can hardly react,
because he thinks and acts incredibly fast" Sergi (Barca)

"Raul and Rivaldo are the most decessive players of the
world." Ismael Urzaiz (Bilbao)

"its a gift to have such a player in your team"..."He has something very special: he has ambition, he has moral and he never gives up, for me hes one of the greatest in todays football"..."Hes powered by an unstoppable ambition, he's never satisfied and gives always 100%. Infront of the goal he has amazing abilities; one of his specialities are lobs, he likes to.shovel the ball into the net, Raul scores goals like Maradona, he is a wonderful player and like all big footballers he is an ndividualist."..."A genious" Jupp Heynckes (1998/99/2000)

"Although he's very young with his 22 years, he takes a lot of responsibility. Raul has never hided himself beyond older players. Today everything at Real Madrid is focussed on Raul: merchandising as well as the playing-style. The footballer and player Raul reminds me in his style in Butragueno. Like the former RM-striker the new No.7 is unpredictable in the box and uses almost every chance infront of the goal." Bernd Schuster (2000)

"Raul is the best spaniard...Raul is always dangerous, always present. He has always a good view during the game...He's the player with the greatest abilities. His style to play comes close of those used by the southamericans. The tecnical style of the Brazilians." Pele (1998/2000)

"He is a born winner, a patrimony of Real Madrid" Fabio Capello 15 november 1999

"Raul is my black beast"Jesús Gil 29 october 1999

"When I saw Raul playing the first time I knew that he must have been touched by an angel. I could'nt be wrong with this boy!"..."This kid will become a world-star like Butragueno"..." He's still very young, has enough time to realize all his aims. He's a player with an extraordinary talent and a wonderful character who will always surprise us positively."..."Raul has the personality to stop a train....he have a gene " Jorge Valdano

"Raul is able to do what just a few in the world can do: playing in a stadium filled with 100.000 people asit were a school-yard."A. Di Stefano

"You always have to notice: With just 17 years in Reals first team, just incredible!" E.Butragueño

"He's a playing striker with a big action-circle and the view for the situation. He knows when he has to go on his own and when he has to pass. For me he is the coming player in Europe in the attack." Christoph Daum (1998)

"Raul is as good as Ronaldo and his name will remain registers in the History of Football " Alfredo Di Stefano , the best player in all history of real madrid

"He seems a brazilian player" Ronaldo when he played for barcelona in 1997