Di Stéfano began his senior career in Argentina, played for Millonarios in Colombia and joined Real Madrid in 1953. At Madrid his range of movement and involvement across every phase of play made him the tactical and competitive centre of a team that dominated the first era of the European Cup. He scored in each of the club’s first five European Cup finals and won the Ballon d’Or twice.

Real Madrid credits him with 396 official matches and 308 goals during his eleven seasons at the club, alongside eight Spanish league titles and five European Cups. He later coached in Spain and remained closely associated with Madrid as honorary president. Footballopedia links Di Stéfano to Real Madrid, River Plate, Millonarios, Spain, Argentina, the European Cup, Santiago Bernabéu and the early continental competition graph.