Snap shot: Barcelona silence the Bernabéu

As FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF prepare for the 263rd instalment of their 'Clásico' on Sunday – a contest that elicits such epithets as "more than a game" and "football's greatest rivalry" – we turn the clock back to 25 April 2004 when the Catalans came from 1-0 down to win at the Santiago Bernabéu. It ended a winless run of eight games in the fixture for Barcelona, including a UEFA Champions League semi-final.

This image was selected by our Facebook followers in a poll on 13 March that received 20,000 votes

1. Ronaldinho
After announcing himself at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the outrageously talented Brazilian joined Barcelona in 2003 for a five-year spell he now considers the best of his life. Twice FIFA World Player of the Year and recipient of the 2005 Ballon d'Or, he won the 2006 UEFA Champions League and two Liga crowns. The forward did not score from the free-kick in the image but in 2005 was afforded the rarest of honours as Madrid fans rose to their feet to applaud him. He spent three years at AC Milan before returning to Brazil with CR Flamengo, CA Mineiro. Now 35 and playing for Querétaro FC in Mexico.

2. Esteban Cambiasso
Defensive midfielder Cambiasso signed for Madrid at 16, returned to Argentina on loan, but with opportunities in a white shirt limited eventually quit the Spanish capital for FC Internazionale Milano in 2004. He had a glorious decade with the Nerazzurri, peaking with the historic treble under José Mourinho in 2009/10. Capped 50 times by Argentina, he scored one of the World Cup's greatest goals as his side overwhelmed Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. Cambiasso left Italy in 2014 in a move to Leicester City FC, where, aged 34, he is embroiled in a Premier League relegation battle.

3. Phillip Cocu
Cocu made his name at PSV Eindhoven, later rejoining his home-town club after six years in Barcelona. Cocu claimed one Eredivisie title during his first PSV stint; upon his return in 2004, PSV picked up three successive championships. Cocu closed out his playing days in the United Arab Emirates. A veteran of three major tournament semi-finals with the Netherlands and 101 international matches, Cocu was assistant coach when the Oranje lost the 2010 World Cup final. He has been coach of PSV since 2013.

4. Iván Helguera
Helguera came to Madrid from RCD Espanyol in 1999, aged 24. The defender-cum-midfielder stayed at the Santiago Bernabéu for eight years, making 346 appearances despite the club's 'Galácticos' policy. He started both the 2000 and 2002 UEFA Champions League finals and collected three Liga titles. Helguera also earned 47 caps for Spain, featuring at UEFA EURO 2000, UEFA EURO 2004 and the 2002 World Cup. He helped Valencia CF to Copa del Rey glory in 2008, playing his last game later that year, aged 33.

5. Zinédine Zidane
Zidane will always be remembered for his picture-perfect volley in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final and his rather less admirable contribution to the 2006 World Cup decider. A red card at the Olympiastadion was his last act as a professional footballer, though he has since kept social media abuzz by turning out for Madrid veterans sides, in charity matches and on the futsal court. He remains at the Bernabéu, and was a special adviser, sporting director and assistant to Carlo Ancelotti before his current post as reserve-team coach.

6. Santiago Solari
The former Argentinian international crossed a divide few have braved in 2000 when departing Club Atlético de Madrid for Real Madrid. Over the next five years the winger made 209 outings, starting the 2002 UEFA Champions League final (he was involved in the build-up to Zidane's volley) and winning the Liga twice. He also compiled three consecutive Scudettos with Inter before retiring in 2010. After a media career, he rejoined the Merengues as Under-16 coach in 2013.

7. David Beckham
Beckham came to prominence at Manchester United FC under Sir Alex Ferguson, landing six league championships, two FA Cups and, most notably, the 1999 UEFA Champions League. Madrid pipped Barcelona to his signature in 2003 but four campaigns brought a solitary Liga crown. Married to a pop star and a marketing agency's dream, Beckham found a fitting showbusiness home during five years with LA Galaxy, punctuated by loans to AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. England's most capped outfield player, Beckham captained the country 58 times.

8. Luís Figo
Ballon d'Or recipient in 2000, FIFA World Player of the Year the next year, UEFA Champions League winner 12 months later – Figo was never short of success in a career that took him to both Madrid and Barcelona. The Portugal winger ended up at Inter and has held various ambassadorial roles at San Siro since hanging up his boots. His most significant post may still be to come: Figo announced in January his intention to run for the FIFA presidency.

9. Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Van Bronckhorst's finest hour came when helping Barcelona, coached by Frank Rijkaard, to victory over Arsenal FC in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final. The left-back gained league and cup honours with Rangers FC and the Gunners before switching to Spain, initially on loan, in 2003. Van Bronckhorst enjoyed his professional swansong at the 2010 World Cup, captaining the Netherlands in the 1-0 final loss to Spain, his last-ever match. He had finished his club career where it started, at Feyenoord, and became their youth coach. Now No2 to Fred Rutten.

10. Roberto Carlos
He of the vicious left foot, Brazil wing-back Roberto Carlos made more than 500 appearances for the Merengues. He left the Bernabéu in 2007 and had stints of varying success in Turkey (Fenerbahçe SK), Brazil (SC Corinthians Paulista) and Russia (FC Anji Makhachkala) before turning his hand to coaching. This began with an ill-fated few months at the Anji helm, yet he fared better at Sivasspor and is now in charge of another Turkish top-flight side, Akhisar Belediyespor.

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