Raúl González Blanco, widely regarded as one of Spain’s greatest-ever footballers, was the face of Spanish football for over a decade. Known for his intelligence, technical brilliance, and lethal finishing, Raúl was the talisman of La Roja (the Spanish national team) from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. Despite his incredible achievements at both club and international level, his international career is often overshadowed by Spain’s golden generation that emerged after his departure.
In this blog post, we take a deep dive into Raúl’s journey with the Spanish national team, his impact, his best moments, and why he remains a legendary yet often overlooked figure in Spain’s football history.
Raúl’s Early Years with Spain
Raúl’s rise to the Spanish national team was meteoric. After making his debut for Real Madrid in 1994, he was called up to the senior national team just a year later in October 1996 at the age of 18. His talent was undeniable, and he was quickly seen as the future of Spanish football.
Raúl scored his first international goal against Yugoslavia in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier, cementing his place as a key player for Spain. Over the next decade, he would lead Spain’s attack in multiple international tournaments, often wearing the captain’s armband.
Raúl’s Role in La Roja
Raúl played as a striker or second forward, often dropping deep to create chances. His movement, anticipation, and finishing ability made him a prolific goal scorer for Spain.
Key Attributes That Made Raúl Special
- Clinical Finishing – Raúl was one of the most intelligent goal scorers in football history, capable of scoring with both feet and his head.
- Leadership – As captain, he led Spain through multiple tournaments and was a role model for younger players.
- Football IQ – His positioning and ability to read the game made him a dangerous attacker.
- Consistency – He remained Spain’s top striker for a decade, a testament to his longevity and quality.
Major Tournaments with Spain
Despite his individual brilliance, Spain as a team struggled to achieve success in major tournaments during Raúl’s era. Let’s take a look at how he performed in key competitions.
1998 FIFA World Cup (France)
Raúl played in his first World Cup at just 21 years old. He scored Spain’s first goal of the tournament against Nigeria, but La Roja suffered an early group-stage exit, despite a 6-1 win over Bulgaria.
UEFA Euro 2000 (Belgium & Netherlands)
Euro 2000 saw Raúl shine, scoring key goals in the group stage against Slovenia and helping Spain reach the quarter-finals. However, his missed penalty against France in the last minute of their quarter-final match remains one of the most heartbreaking moments of his career.
2002 FIFA World Cup (South Korea & Japan)
This was one of Raúl’s best tournaments, as he led Spain to the quarter-finals. He scored three goals in the group stage, but an injury ruled him out of Spain’s controversial quarter-final against South Korea, which they lost on penalties.
UEFA Euro 2004 (Portugal)
Spain underperformed in Euro 2004, with Raúl captaining the squad, but the team was eliminated in the group stage, finishing behind Portugal and Greece.
2006 FIFA World Cup (Germany)
This was Raúl’s last major tournament for Spain. He scored an important equalizer against Tunisia, but Spain were knocked out in the Round of 16 by France, ending Raúl’s World Cup dreams.
The End of Raúl’s International Career
After Spain’s disappointing 2006 World Cup campaign, new head coach Luis Aragonés began to phase Raúl out of the team. Aragonés wanted to build a younger squad around David Villa, Fernando Torres, Xavi, and Andrés Iniesta.
Despite being Spain’s all-time top scorer at the time (with 44 international goals), Raúl was not selected for Euro 2008, a tournament Spain eventually won, marking the beginning of their golden era.
Raúl never officially retired from international football, but he never played for Spain again after 2006, missing out on Spain’s historic Euro 2008, 2010 FIFA World Cup, and Euro 2012 victories.
Raúl’s Legacy with Spain
Raúl’s international career was one of Spain’s greatest yet most bittersweet. He was a record-breaking goal scorer, but his time with the national team was marked by underachievement in major tournaments. His exclusion from Spain’s golden era means he often doesn't get the recognition he deserves.
Why Raúl is a Spanish Football Legend
- Spain’s top scorer for many years (until David Villa surpassed him).
- Represented La Roja 102 times, scoring 44 goals.
- Captained Spain for several years, leading them through tough tournaments.
- Paved the way for future Spanish strikers like Villa and Torres.
- Part of the bridge between Spain’s struggles and their later success.
Raúl’s legacy in Spanish football is undeniable. While he never won a major international trophy, he was the face of Spanish football for over a decade and inspired a generation of players who eventually brought glory to La Roja.
Though Spain’s golden era came after his departure, his contributions to the national team should never be forgotten. He was a world-class striker, a leader, and a player who gave everything for his country.
Spain may have lifted trophies without Raúl, but there is no doubt that he helped lay the foundation for the success that followed.