Real Madrid’s El Clasico Hero / Image by SoccerNews.com
Captain of both the Spanish national team and Real Madrid, the 30-year-old defender Sergio Ramos is a cult football figure.
Not only is that the case within the closed circle of Madridistas and those football fans which hold Los Blancos close to their heart, Ramos’ cult status has deep roots within the European football as well, both on the international and club level.
An extravagant professional of undeniable football qualities, Sergio Ramos is known as a man with strong inclination towards fashion and tattoos. His heavily inked body and frequent hair-style changes are there to attest to the claim.
Above all however, Sergio Ramos is a football player who leaves no one indifferent.
Focusing on the sole football part of the cult he represents, Sergio Ramos is an opinion-divider, a split-maker who can go from being the greatest liability for his club and country alike to becoming a crowned hero and much-adored idol.
His strange case, much to the likeness of equally cult novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, can be analyzed through all that is good and through all that is bad within Sergio Ramos.
Jekyll
Luckily for all Real Madrid fans around the globe, Sergio Ramos let his inner Henry Jekyll come to play on the big El Clasico occasion on Saturday afternoon.
Real Madrid were struggling to catch a break against their fierce rival FC Barcelona for most part of the match and were on course to suffer their first defeat in quite a while.
What his teammates failed to do for 89 minutes, Sergio Ramos did in the dying moments of the match, latching on a late header to give his side a vital 1-1 draw.
Sergio Ramos scored his 75th career goal, which is an impressive tally for a defender, helping his team extend their unbeaten run to whopping 33 games across all competitions.
90th-minute goals have become Sergio Ramos’ thing, headers during last seconds of the games are something he does for fun.
Saturday’s equalizing header aside, the most recent 90th-minute header occurred in August, when the 30-year-old saved his team in the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla. Real Madrid captain saved his team from an embarrassment, sending the game in extra time when Dani Carvajal and his impressive solo effort brought a 119th-minute victory over Rojiblancos.
The same thing happened two years ago, in the UEFA Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.
Godin’s 36th-minute opener looked like it would be enough for Atletico to lift the coveted trophy, but Sergio Ramos had a different thing in mind when he literally rose to the occasion to score a flying header and send the match in extra time.
His goal was just what Real Madrid needed to get their blood running again and win the historic La Decima thanks to goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Ronaldo, who sealed the 4-1 victory from the white spot.
Hyde
Sergio Ramos could use a magical potion to help him control his temper and help the good prevail over the bad.
Edward Hyde within Sergio Ramos has the ability to scrape his way to the surface on more occasions that the Spanish defender himself would like.
Real Madrid’s El Clasico Hero / Image by SoccerNews.com
Sergio Ramos’ liability in the back and lack of defensive stability have a way to undermine his big influence upfront.
There comes a moment, from time to time, when Real Madrid captain seems to just switch off the logical part of the thinking process, becoming like a bull in front of the red cloth.
Ramos acts on impulse, often rushing to get things done without thinking through the possible consequences.
It has led to Real Madrid defender being the one who gave away four penalties for club and country in the 2016-17 season. Ramos is fighting to harness his combustible character, but a run of two years without a red card are there to prove his efforts.
Still, a Mr Hyde within prevailed and was once again on display in April – symbolically enough against Barcelona in El Clasico – when Real Madrid captain slid through the back of Luis Suarez without a clearly visible reason.
As a man who won it all and helped his club’s cause with a great part of aforementioned impressive tally of 75 career goals, Sergio Ramos is leading the pack when it comes to red cards as well.
The 30-year-old defender has so far seen red on 21 different occasions making him the all-time leader in La Liga red card department.
If it is any consolation, Sergio Ramos is a long way off from getting his name with the ‘most violent’ ones in football history. Gerardo Bedoya’s 43 red cards during his football career are likely enough to ensure the ‘crown’ remains on the head of this retired Colombian footballer.
It most definitely is a record Sergio Ramos cannot achieve, right?
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