1958–59 Real Madrid CF season

During the summer Hungarian player Ferenc Puskás arrived to the club[1] after a two-year FIFA ban on him due to his defection from communist Hungary.[2] The move was controversial due to the player's age (31 years old) and him allegedly being overweight, the reasons why he had been already turned down by Juventus, Milan,[3] and Manchester United.

However, Puskas and Di Stefano completed a lethal duo with an astonishing campaign collecting the club's fourth consecutive European Cup, defeating Just Fontaine's Stade de Reims. However, Puskas missed the final match due to a technical decision by head coach Luis Carniglia, who was fired after that by club chairman Santiago Bernabéu.[4] Additionally, Di Stefano clinched another top scorer individual trophy in the Spanish league with 23 goals. Puskas was second with 21 goals.

The squad finished in a decent second spot in the league standings, four points behind champions Barcelona, despite scoring a club record 89 goals (to Barcelona's 96). In June, Real Madrid reached the semi-finals of Copa del Generalísimo, where they were defeated by Barcelona.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ESP Juan Alonso — GK  ARG Rogelio Domínguez — FW  ESP Ramón Marsal — MF  URU Hector Ramos — DF  ESP Herrera — DF  ESP Lesmes — MF  ESP Zárraga — DF  URU José Emilio Santamaría — DF  ESP Miche

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ESP Juan Santisteban Troyano — MF  FRA Raymond Kopa — FW  ARG Rial — FW  ESP Alfredo Di Stéfano — FW  ESP Joseíto — FW  ESP Francisco Gento — DF  ESP Ángel Atienza — FW  HUN Ferenc Puskás — MF  ESP Ruiz — GK  ESP Berasaluce — DF  ESP Marquitos — FW  ESP Mateos