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It's the perfect example of the plebeians being granted an audience with royalty.

European super club Real Madrid, the greatest team in the history of club soccer, will deign to grace Major League Soccer with its presence Friday night when it takes on Toronto FC in an international friendly at BMO Field.

Compare the respective resumés of the two teams.

With a global following of hundreds of millions of fans, Real Madrid has won a record nine European Cups/Champions League titles and 31 Spanish league championships since their inception in 1902.

Some of the best players ever to play the game have worn Madrid's famous white jersey, including Alfredo di Stefano, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo. The newest star is Cristiano Ronaldo, having joined the club in June after los Blancos paid Manchester United $145 million Cdn, a world record transfer fee, for the services of the Portuguese star.

Toronto FC, meanwhile, has one piece of silverware in their trophy cabinet (the 2009 Canadian club championship) and have yet to make the playoffs since joining MLS in 2007.

Real Madrid, granted royal status by King Alfonso XIII in 1920, will use this four-day, pre-season tour of North America to prepare for the start of their Spanish league campaign, which kicks off on Aug. 30.

The Spanish outfit will also play D.C. United in Washington on Sunday before heading back home.

Even though Friday's game is an exhibition, both sides are taking it seriously.

"It's going to be a great experience for the lads, to play against one of the best teams in the world, if not the best. It'll be interesting to see how they cope with it," Toronto coach Chris Cummins said.

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini is using this North American tour to give playing time to his new players and build team chemistry.

"It's an opportunity to evaluate the new players and it gives them a chance to adapt to each other, to gel and develop the right understanding between each other," the Chilean tactician said through a translator.

Indeed, los galaticos have been busy this summer, spending close to $400 million Cdn in transfer fees on a host of new players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Toronto FC captian Jim Brennan and his fellow defenders expect to have their hands full against Ronaldo, the reigning FIFA world player of the year.

"He's unbelievable, he's one of the best players in the world. I was fortunate enough to [go up] against him against Portugal when I played for Canada and he's something special," Brennan said.

Despite the obvious gap in class between Real Madrid and Toronto FC, the Spanish side doesn't plan to take its Canadian opponents lightly.

"In the end, it's 11 players against 11 players on the field. I think we'll show a lot of attacking mentality and hopefully produce some goals," Madrid midfielder Guti said.

Toronto had to lay down natural grass over BMO Field's artificial surface, at a cost of $250,000, before the Spanish club agreed to pay a visit to Canada.

But Real Madrid players were seen stamping down divots during their open practice Thursday night that attracted a paying crowd of 18,000 fans at BMO Field.