2016 Real Madrid Home – Cristiano Ronaldo #7 Large

The 2015/16 season was a monumental campaign for Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, defined by the midseason return of Zinedine Zidane as manager and culminating in the club’s historic 11th UEFA Champions League title – La Undécima.

• La Liga:

  • Real Madrid finished 2nd, just one point behind Barcelona (91 to 90).

  • After Zidane took over in January, Madrid lost only once in the final 20 league matches, ending with the best defensive and scoring run in Spain during that stretch.

• UEFA Champions League:

  • Crowned Champions of Europe, defeating Atlético Madrid in the final on penalties (1–1 AET, 5–3 pens).

  • Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive penalty to seal the title at San Siro.

  • Notable results included a 3–0 semifinal win over Wolfsburg (after a 2–0 first-leg loss), with Ronaldo netting a hat-trick to complete the comeback.

• Copa del Rey: Disqualified early due to an ineligible player incident (Denis Cheryshev vs. Cádiz).

• FIFA Club World Cup / UEFA Super Cup: Not contested this season — those triumphs came in the following campaign.

• Key Storyline:

  • Zidane restored unity, tactical balance, and belief in the squad after Rafa Benítez’s dismissal.

  • The BBC trio (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) dominated attacks, while midfield control from Modrić and Kroos flourished again.

• Kit:
  The 2015/16 Real Madrid home jersey, by Adidas, featured a classic all-white design with light grey trim and a minimalistic modern touch. Clean, simple, and regal — it symbolized the club’s traditional elegance and was the shirt worn in Zidane’s first Champions League triumph as manager.

2. Player’s Impact – Cristiano Ronaldo (2015/16)

Cristiano Ronaldo was the driving force behind Real Madrid’s success, delivering another extraordinary season that reinforced his status as the greatest big-game performer of his generation.

• Appearances: 48 matches in all competitions.

• Statistics: 51 goals and 15 assists.

• Key Moments:

  • Scored 16 goals in the Champions League, finishing as the competition’s top scorer for the fourth consecutive season.

  • Netted a hat-trick vs. Wolfsburg to overturn a 2–0 deficit and send Madrid to the semifinals.

  • Converted the winning penalty in the Champions League Final vs. Atlético Madrid.

  • Scored 35 La Liga goals, including crucial braces against Celta Vigo, Espanyol, and Valencia.

• Role: Played primarily as a left forward, evolving into a more efficient, penalty-box-focused attacker — conserving energy for decisive moments.

• Legacy:

  • The 2015/16 campaign was a defining chapter in Ronaldo’s Real Madrid legacy — marked by his relentless scoring, leadership, and composure under pressure.

  • His Champions League dominance earned him another Ballon d’Or (2016) and reaffirmed his legend in Madridista history.

3. Full Squad List – Real Madrid 2015/16

Manager: Rafa Benítez → Zinedine Zidane

Goalkeepers:

• Keylor Navas

• Kiko Casilla

• Rubén Yáñez

Defenders:

• Sergio Ramos (Captain)

• Pepe

• Raphaël Varane

• Marcelo

• Dani Carvajal

• Danilo

• Nacho Fernández

• Álvaro Arbeloa

Midfielders:

• Luka Modrić

• Toni Kroos

• Casemiro

• Isco

• James Rodríguez

• Mateo Kovačić

Forwards:

• Cristiano Ronaldo

• Karim Benzema

• Gareth Bale

• Jesé Rodríguez

• Lucas Vázquez

• Borja Mayoral