Real Madrid: The 5 best players from the first quarter of the 2020-21 season

CB Sergio Ramos

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is all-important to the team’s success, which is why fans have been so anxious about news regarding his contract extension. They understand how vital Ramos is, because when Ramos hasn’t played in the Champions League, Los Blancos have looked like a second-rate side. Look no further than the defensive meltdowns against Manchester City in August and Shakhtar Donetsk in October.

Ramos already has two goals in La Liga and one goal and one assist in the Champions League this season, scoring from a corner in the 3-2 win over Inter Milan.

Defensively, Ramos has been solid, but he’s impressed the most as a ball-playing center back. He is the team’s leader in so many different statistical categories as a passer, including passes into the final third and successful switches of play.

No player on Real Madrid has more passes per game than Ramos, who is completing 92.4 percent of his passes. He’s also the leader in long balls attempted per match at 8.5, which is four more than the second-placed qualifier, Toni Kroos.

Ramos has been the only center back meeting expectations in 2020-2021. He’s helping the team as a leader, passer, calming influence on the ball, and goal-scorer. The Spanish captain has picked up where he left off in 2019-2020, when he helped lift the team to a 34th league title.