90min

Sergio Ramos' Greatest Moments for the Spanish National Team

By Grey Whitebloom

In an international career spanning a decade and a half, Sergio Ramos has enjoyed his fair share of triumphs with Spain
In an international career spanning a decade and a half, Sergio Ramos has enjoyed his fair share of triumphs with Spain / Soccrates Images/Getty Images
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One of the many tattoos littered across Sergio Ramos' body reads: "A lion never loses sleep over the opinion of sheep."

As a player so readily cast as a master of the dark arts, it's not an unwise maxim to live by.

While Ramos has certainly endured the ire of opponents and fans in a career spanning more than a decade and a half, the ultimate anti-hero has racked up countless accolades for every barb which has inevitably rolled off his back (or mane).

Now La Roja's most capped international, here's Ramos' best international moments.

1. Debut

The hair was a bit longer back in the beginning of his international career
The hair was a bit longer back in the beginning of his international career / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Still at his hometown side of Sevilla, Luis Aragones called up an 18-year-old Ramos in March 2005 to Spain's senior side for a friendly against China.

At the time, Ramos was the second-youngest player to make his debut for La Roja since the Second World War, but Aragones was typically blunt in his explanation, telling the teenager: “I don’t care that you’re 18," as recounted on Ramos' official website. "You’re playing in La Liga every Sunday.”

2. Euro 2008

Ramos hoists aloft Spain's first major trophy for 44 years
Ramos hoists aloft Spain's first major trophy for 44 years / TORSTEN SILZ/Getty Images

Before the tournament had even begun, Ramos was hovering on the verge of causing trouble by dishing out his very public opinion about team selection.

Spain's coach Aragones didn't share Ramos' view that his Real Madrid teammate Raul should be picked and the pair were caught in a heated argument midway through the tournament. Nevertheless, Ramos was an ever-present for the knockout stages as Spain claimed the title.

Ramos celebrated wearing a t-shirt dedicated to his former Sevilla teammate Antonio Puerta a year after he passed away. Spain's captain continues to wear the number 15 for his national team as a tribute to Puerta to this day.

3. World Cup 2010

Ramos was declared 'the most influential and effective player' at the 2010 World Cup by FIFA's statisticians
Ramos was declared 'the most influential and effective player' at the 2010 World Cup by FIFA's statisticians / JEWEL SAMAD/Getty Images

Vicente del Bosque ensured his side went just 13 minutes without Ramos on their way to the nation's maiden World Cup crown. Still being deployed as an energetic right-back, not much happened in the closing stages of that second group game against Honduras, as Spain saw out a 2-0 win, a rare extravagant scoreline for the masters of a '1-0' victory.

4. Euro 2012

Ramos leaves his mark on Italy's Mario Balotelli in the final of Euro 2012
Ramos leaves his mark on Italy's Mario Balotelli in the final of Euro 2012 / Sports Illustrated China/Getty Images

Having been permanently installed as the side's centre-back alongside Gerard Pique, Ramos exerted even more influence on the nation's defence.

For a golden era remembered most for their intricate passing and technical supremacy, Spain (and Ramos) boast a ludicrous defensive record in this era. In ten knockout games at major tournaments between 2008 and 2012, Ramos didn't miss a single minute and Spain didn't concede a single goal.

5. 100th Cap

Ramos reached 100 caps eight days short of his 27th birthday
Ramos reached 100 caps eight days short of his 27th birthday / RAFA RIVAS/Getty Images

One of the rare instances when the Spanish publication Marca didn't succumb to hyperbole (regarding a Madrid-based player in particular) was the opening sentence after Ramos' 100th cap against Finland in 2013: "Mejor imposible."

On the day he became the youngest Spain international to make a century of appearances, Ramos captained the side and opened the scoring with a perfectly placed header. In English? Better impossible.

6. Joining the Nation's Elite Scorers

Ramos invariably performs more than one celebration after scoring a goal
Ramos invariably performs more than one celebration after scoring a goal / Soccrates Images/Getty Images

As a player who has said he has a 'striker's soul', perhaps it shouldn't be too surprising that Ramos ranks among Spain's highest goalscorers despite his deeper starting position.

Only nine other players in the history of Spain's national football team have as many as 20 goals. Ramos joined this elite list in the summer of 2019 with a penalty against Sweden.

This strike came in the midst of a run in which Ramos, admittedly the side's penalty taker but a centre-back nonetheless, netted eight goals in nine appearances.

7. Spain's Record Appearance Maker

While Joshua King's 94th minute equalising penalty may get lost in the fog of time, Ramos ensured Spain's 1-1 draw with Norway in October 2019 will forever have a place in his nation's history. Ramos marked the night with his 168th cap, eclipsing the tally held by long-time teammate and friend Iker Casillas.

Immediately Ramos had his sights set on the future, declaring: "I am emotional every time I put on this shirt," as quoted by the BBC. "That will not change and I hope to continue doing so for many years."

He is now European football's most capped international player, with the world record in his sights.