Real Madrid: 5 Most Valuable Players of the last decade
By Parshva Shah
Real Madrid CB Sergio Ramos
Although he was signed from Sevilla, one of the rivals of Real Madrid, Madridismo runs through every vein of Sergio Ramos’ body. There couldn’t have been a better player to lead Real Madrid.
Not only is he one of the best defenders of his generation, but also one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game. He is right up there with the best of the best.
What Sergio Ramos has done for the club and what he has managed to achieve is incredible. I can’t explain enough how much I love this man. He is the symbol of Madridismo in every sense of the word. He might not be the most astute of defenders, but he leaves his heart and soul on the pitch defending this crest.
When he is not delivering defensively, he makes up for it with his clutch goals. The equalizing goal in the 2014 Champions League final is a moment etched on the hearts of the fans forever, earning the title of ‘Mr. 92:48″ for scoring a goal just 12 seconds from the end of the stoppage time to take the final in extra time. Let’s not forget that was the Decima. Real were in quest of this title since 2002.
Ramos is a mixture of all qualities required to represent Real Madrid. He has the dedication, aggression, Madridismo, never-say-die attitude, bravery, courage, etc. He is the embodiment of passion.
There’s just so much to write about my captain, and I can’t write about it all in 300-400 words. For me, he was the most valuable Real Madrid player alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the last decade.
He has already turned 34 and is heading into the twilight of his career. Yet, he remains at the top of his game and is still widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world at the moment. Just like Cristiano’s void cannot be filled by signing even the best talents, emulating Sergio Ramos’ leadership and passion is a next-to-impossible thing. He cannot be replaced, ever.
Raúl holds the record for most appearances for Real Madrid, wearing the Whites a gargantuan 741 times across 16 seasons. El Capitan will be playing his 16th season with the Merengues in 2020-21, and he stands at 650 appearances.
Ramos has expressed his desire to retire at Real Madrid, and if he does, he will more than likely surpass Raúl’s record of most appearances. I hope he stays forever!