Regarded as one of the greatest forwards of all time, during a stage in his career he was simultaneously the all-time top scorer for Real Madrid, the Spain national team, and had the most goals in the UEFA Champions League.

He represented La Roja in three FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships, being named in the Euro Team of the Tournament for 2000.

Following Atlético's then-president Jesús Gil decision to close their youth academy as a cost-saving measure, Raúl moved on to Real Madrid's Cadete team in La Fábrica.

He first started his professional career in the 1994–95 season with Real Madrid C.[11] He scored 16 goals in just nine games (including five in one match against CD Corralejo) and was swiftly promoted to the first team by coach Jorge Valdano, replacing Emilio Butragueño in a symbolic "passing of the crown.

"[citation needed] He became the youngest player – 17 years and 124 days – ever to play for the senior side, though the record was broken by Alberto Rivera later that same season.

On 29 October 1994, in an away game against Real Zaragoza at La Romareda, he created a goal for strike partner Iván Zamorano, heralding the demise of Butragueño in the process.

During a La Liga game against fierce rivals Barcelona at the Nou Camp in October 1999, Raúl silenced the hostile home crowd of almost 100,000 fans when he scored and then memorably celebrated his goal by putting a finger to his lips as though to tell them to be quiet.

He is presently fifth on the all-time list of La Liga goalscorers, behind Argentine Lionel Messi, Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, Spaniard Telmo Zarra and Mexican Hugo Sánchez.

[21] On 23 September 2009, Raúl equalled Manolo Sanchís' league appearance record for Real Madrid,[22] and is second in La Liga behind Andoni Zubizarreta, who played in 622 matches.

On 22 October 2010, Raúl scored twice against Hapoel Tel Aviv in a 3–1 win, which tied him with German legend Gerd Müller for the most European goals.

Raúl fully broke this record on 15 February 2011 on his return to Spain with a crucial away goal in the round of 16 tie against Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium in a 1–1 draw.

[33] At a press conference on 19 April 2012, Raúl announced he would leave Schalke after his contract expired in June, and that "[his] future is not in Europe".

[36] On 12 May 2012, it was announced Raúl had signed a deal with Qatari Football Club Al Sadd for the 2012–13 Qatar Stars League season.

[37][38] He played his first competitive match for the club on 5 August in the 2012 Sheikh Jassem Cup, scoring a penalty in extra time in order to secure a 2–0 win against Mesaimeer.

[46] He made his North American Soccer League (NASL) debut on 4 April 2015 in a 1–0 win against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, partially owned by his former Real Madrid strike partner Ronaldo, leaving with a hamstring injury in the second half.

[52] Raúl began his Spain career at the youth level and represented the nation at the 1995 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring three goals from five matches.

[54][55] On 9 October 1996, Raúl debuted for the Spanish senior squad against the Czech Republic, playing 90 minutes of a goalless 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification draw at the Letná Stadion in Prague.

[61] Spain were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual champions France; Raúl missed a last minute penalty which would have taken the tie to extra-time.

[64] He suffered a groin injury in the round of 16 win over the Republic of Ireland,[65] and missed the remainder of the tournament, in which Spain went out to South Korea in the quarter-finals.

On 7 September 2002, Raúl scored in a 2–0 away win over Greece in Euro 2004 qualifying, putting him on 29 goals in 56 international games, equalling the national goalscoring record set by the recently retired Fernando Hierro.

Raúl earned his 89th cap on 8 October 2005 in a 2–0 away win over Belgium in 2006 World Cup qualifying, levelling with Hierro as Spain's most-capped outfield player.

[68] However, he played less frequently across the campaign as new manager Luis Aragonés preferred to partner David Villa and Fernando Torres.

At the final tournament in Germany, he came on at half-time for Luis García in the second group match in Stuttgart, with Spain trailing Tunisia 0–1.

When goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel could not retain Cesc Fàbregas' shot in the 72nd minute, Raúl equalised from close range as Spain eventually won 3–1.

[70] He was last chosen for the national team on 6 September, in a 3–2 defeat against Northern Ireland in Belfast, a match in which he hit the post late on.

The final against Eldense went to extra time and a 3–3 draw in the second leg, with the team from the Valencian Community winning promotion due to a better regular season finish.

Raúl's press conference after the game was cancelled for security reasons due to an invasion of the pitch and facilities by celebrating fans of the home team.

[84] Although primarily renowned as a prolific goalscorer, Raúl was also a highly creative and hardworking player that was capable of assisting teammates,[81][87] and he occasionally played as an attacking midfielder in his later career.

[93] In 2013, former England centre-back Rio Ferdinand praised Raúl for his clever movement off the ball, and his ability to exploit gaps in defenses, describing him as: "the most intelligent player [he'd] played against.

[97][98] Raúl married Mamen Sanz in 1999 and the couple have four sons and a daughter: Jorge, Hugo, twins Héctor and Mateo, and María.