Whether you like him or not, Sergio Ramos is one of the best defenders in the world…
He is one of the most hated footballers on the planet – and the way he plays the game generally attracts a lot of heat. After the Champions League final, his haters have increased significantly in number. Sergio Ramos’s clash with Mohamed Salah was tipped as one of the game’s key battles, and would ultimately have a huge influence on the result. Sadly, it ended with Salah having to leave the field in the first-half after dislocating his shoulder in a tussle with Ramos.
Inevitably, the incident has made Sergio Ramos the footballing world’s centre of attention over the past couple of days. I have seen petitions being filed; a celebrity challenging the Spaniard to a fight; and fans calling for his head. And while there’s no denying that he wrongly imposed himself on Salah, there was no real intention to injure the Egyptian. A backlash was expected given the monumental stage, but the current inquest is a little over the top. In fact, everyone would love to have a defender like Ramos on their side.
2016 🏆 2017 🏆 2018 🏆
Champions League three-peat for for @RealMadrid.#UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/tO0Bn2phA3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 26, 2018
The centre-back has always been excessively passionate, and that’s what has made him the player he is today. He always plays on the edge, making his attitude a key component of his overall game. It’s a trait exemplified by the numbers of red cards he has received over the course of his career. He unquestionably knows how to play dirty on the pitch and get away with it, for which he is often termed the “master of the dark arts.”
Unfortunately, his antics tend to overshadow how talented he actually is. Ramos is one of the best defenders in the world – proving himself to be very good on the ball and extremely competitive in one-on-one situations. In Real Madrid’s system, he is also tasked with covering the left side of defence every time Marcelo abandons his position for his attacking forays. El Capitán is not afraid to put his body on the line either and is a significant threat on set-pieces. Overall, he’s a truly complete defender.
Sergio Ramos is the first captain to lift the Champions League three times with the same side since Franz Beckenbauer in 1976.
There always needs to be a villain. pic.twitter.com/c5r5br96Qv
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 26, 2018
In the summer of 2015, after a transfer saga which constantly linked him with Manchester United, Sergio Ramos signed a new contract. He was named captain of Los Blancos and the decision was questioned by many who doubted his temperament as a leader, but it can now be deemed a master-stroke. The Andalusian native marshalled Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles and picked up other silverware along the way, including La Liga, two UEFA Super Cups, and two Club World Cups.
Everyone has the right to say what they want about Ramos, and he is undoubtedly the pantomime villain of football – but most importantly, he’s a winner. The defensive stalwart will do anything to get his team the victory; an approach that has guided him through a wonderful career at club level and on the international stage. His achievements are irrefutable, and one would be foolish to suggest that he hasn’t established himself as a legend of the game.