Rise, Sir Sergio CLUTCH Ramos.

Sergio Ramos may not be remembered for being one of the finest defenders the game has seen. He is pretty good in the position and has matured and grown into the role, moving from the flank into the considerably more difficult and demanding center of defence, but he has never been regarded as one of the world's best.

When the dust settles though, and after he hangs up his boots, Ramos will have to go down as being one of the most clutch defenders in football history...at club level.





As of writing, there are three major moments that stand out, where his goal was not only vital, but it was in a high-stakes game where the palms get sweaty and the mouths go dry. Many shrink in this moment, too afraid to stick their head above ground and make a statement.

Not Ramos.

He rises to the challenge and steps outside his duty of merely being a defender who hangs back. Ramos picks his moment to get himself in the right position to get the goal that his team needs. Most players won't do that or even think of trying to step outside their spectrum of instructions. Ramos on the other hand...does.

Let's take exhibit A.

Champions League final, 2014. Real were handed a tie against their city rivals Atletico, who were beginning to become a force in Europe. Simeone's boys had also already won La Liga, so even though Real had the "better" players, Atletico were the slight favorites based on performance over the course of the season.

Real went a goal down, and were chasing Atletico all game. Cristiano was a ghost, their big signing Bale was doing his best, but nothing was connecting. With every minute, the game kept slipping away from Real, and Atletico were in touching distance of ecstacy and glory.

Then in what was the final play of the game...a corner.

This was Real's last chance. They hadn't played great, but they just needed to find a goal from somewhere. However ugly, rugged, or forced...something needed to drop. So in it came.

Eyes were obviously on Cristiano, who has the greatest leap in the game. But another player had more desire, heart and will to keep Madrid in the game. He rose heighest, and stretching every vein in his neck, that ball was rifled in from head to net.

Equalizer. Jubilation.

Enter hero: Sergio Ramos.





From then on, the momentum swung. Atletico's hearts and minds never recovered and Real were given new life, and tore their rivals apart in extra time. That Decima was finally handed to them.

You see though, that win was all down to Ramos. Real didn't play well. Simeone had figured out Ancelotti
tactically, and maybe they didn't deserve to get back in the game. Which is what makes Ramos's goal so incredible.

It really required him entering in a separate mental space from his teammates who looked defeated. It took a deep plunge into the depths of his soul to somehow, drag his team back in a game that looked to have been lost.

Exhibit B.

Another final. Same team.

Now, this goal was not as clutch as Exhibit A, but I want to include it because of how the same player, a defender, scored in yet another final.

It wasn't as pleasing on the eyes as his blistering header in the 2014, final, but a goal is a goal. And this man came up big once again in the biggest game in club football.

Think about it and I'll give you a few moments to head back in your memory. How many defenders have scored in two separate finals?

I'll wait...

Can't think of any off the top of my head. Ramos again, opening the scoring in what was a far more even contest than the 2014 final, showed the dude's character and his willingness to do whatever he could to help his team.

That is what makes Ramos such a player. Again, not the greatest defender, but you won't find many guys with greater character or heart on the football pitch than him. And what's between your ears and what beats on the left side of your chest, is just as important as your ability with your feet.

Exhibit C.

El Clasico. As of right now, it's the most watched football rivalry in the world, surpassing the Milan derby which has fallen in interest along with the Serie A. The matches always produce goals, with a higher level of emotion involved between two clubs battling for domination in Spain.

The Clasico this month is the worst that I've seen with both teams not at their best. I was more disappointed in Barcelona who had pretty much a full strength team whilst Madrid were missing Bale and Morata. Whatever the case, the match never flowed, and failed to live up to the billing.

To the match - Barcelona found their way into the lead in the second half, and took control of the game. Madrid were finding it hard to make anything stick with the "amazing" talents of Benzema and Vasquez up front, whilst Batcelona were really finding space between the Madrid defence that was far more resolute in the first half.

This looked to be a very important three points for Barcelona, closing the gap in the league.

Yet again, it was deep into injury time. A ball that was floated into the box, and there he was yet again. Knowing that his team needed something...anything.

He wanted it more than any other Barcelona player, and he bundled the ball home for an equalizer that could have significant implications for the league.



He is now Sergio Clutch Ramos. No other name can be more fitting. When he retires, and the Madrid faithful look back at the goals he's scored and you combine that with his full-on committed defending, this has to be a player that enters the Madrid hall of fame, and must be honored in some way.

And he's not done yet as there may be another very late, very important goal to come from Clutch Ramos.

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