Ramos’s aggressive style of play contributed to his success. He is considered one of the dirtiest players of the 21st century, accumulating 297 cards (268 yellow and 29 red) since 2000—more than any other player in this era.
Throughout his long and illustrious career, Ramos has faced many challenges. So, who was his toughest opponent?Continue Reading
In 2021, the Spaniard shared his thoughts.
Quoted by Telegraphi, when asked about the ‘toughest opponent’ he ever faced, Ramos mentioned a few names, but one Barcelona legend stood out.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t Lionel Messi. Instead, Ramos named Ronaldinho as the player he found the hardest to defend, saying:
“For me, the most unstoppable is Ronaldinho. In his best time, hardly any defender could face him.”
However, he also left out Messi again when he named a number of other ex-Barca forwards as footballers he struggled to contain. He added:
“But there are others like Samuel Eto’o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who could cause problems with their speed or physicality.”
After leaving Sevilla in the summer of 2024, Sergio Ramos found himself without a club. Throughout his career, he faced Lionel Messi more than any other player, meeting him 44 times, with Ramos winning 16, drawing nine, and losing 19 of those encounters.
Given Messi’s status as one of the greatest players ever, that’s a respectable record. Ramos’s stats against Ronaldinho aren’t bad either, with two wins, four draws, and three losses.
However, Ramos seems to be referring to the overall experience of defending against a forward in top form. One standout memory for the former Madrid captain likely comes from 2005.
That year, Ronaldinho won the Ballon d’Or, and his performance in El Clasico showcased his peak abilities. The Brazilian’s brilliance earned him a standing ovation at the Bernabeu as he led Barcelona to a 3-0 victory, scoring two goals in a dazzling display.
At the time, Ronaldinho didn’t even realise the reception he earned from the Madrid fans, explaining: “No, I didn’t realise in the moment. I remembered when we arrived to the locker room and everybody was talking about it and I went to check it on the TV.
“Because of the joy of scoring and the celebration, I didn’t notice the standing ovation. It’s special. Only a few players have had this joy of being acclaimed by the fans of your arch-rivals in a derby.”
