Real Madrid not only dominates in terms of trophies but also in player development. According to a study by the CIES Football Observatory, the Spanish club has produced more footballers for Europe’s top five leagues than any other team over the past 20 years. With a total of 166 players coming through La Fábrica before making their way to the elite, Madrid surpasses rivals like Barcelona (156 players) and PSG (111).

In addition to leading in the number of academy graduates, Real Madrid also tops the rankings in total playing time, with over 1,078,118 minutes accumulated across the leagues of Spain, England, Italy, Germany, and France. While Barcelona follows closely with 1,043,263 minutes, the Madrid academy stands out as the most productive in European football.

An Academy That Makes a Difference

This recognition reinforces the statement made by Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, during the last General Assembly, where he proudly declared that the club has "the best academy in the world." And rightly so, as Valdebebas has consistently produced top talent over the years.

Players like Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, and Vinícius Jr. are clear examples of the success of this development model. Even those who arrived at a later age, like Camavinga, who joined at 18, have flourished under Madrid’s system.

This season, Carlo Ancelotti has given several academy players opportunities, with Asencio standing out as he has already surpassed 2,000 minutes with the first team. Other young talents, such as Gonzalo, Jacobo Ramón, Diego and Lorenzo Aguado, Chema, and Dani Yáñez, have also made their debuts, reinforcing the club’s commitment to homegrown players.

Carvajal, La Fábrica’s Flagbearer

Among the many talents produced by Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal has become the academy’s biggest reference. With 25,088 minutes in top-flight football, the right-back has been a key player for Madrid, except for his brief stint at Bayer Leverkusen during the 2012-13 season. In the ranking of academy graduates with the most minutes played in Europe’s top leagues, Carvajal ranks fourth, while Nacho Fernández is tenth with 16,724 minutes.

Other former Madrid players also stand out on this list, including Dani Parejo (40,289 minutes), José Callejón (31,313), and Juan Mata (28,490), who have had successful careers at clubs like Valencia, Villarreal, Napoli, Chelsea, and Manchester United.

The influence of Real Madrid extends beyond top-tier clubs, with teams like Getafe benefiting the most, having had 26 former Madrid players in their ranks in recent years, followed by Espanyol and Málaga with 15 each.

The numbers confirm that La Fábrica at Real Madrid is not only one of the best academies in the world but the undisputed number one in Europe, outperforming Barcelona and other major clubs across the continent.