Sergio Ramos

Profile:
Ramos became the youngest Spain international for 55 years when making his debut in March 2005. Full of energy, quick and always looking to get forward, he has become one of the most highly-rated defenders in world football.

Joining Real from Sevilla for the princely sum of £21 million in 2005, Ramos, then 19, was initially pencilled in as a long-term replacement for club legend Fernando Hierro at centre-back. However, by the 2006-07 season he was already carving out a more regular role at right-back and his youthful enthusiasm could be contained no longer as he ousted Michel Salgado for both club and country.

Ramos was a prominent figure as Real won back-to-back La Liga titles in 2007 and 2008 and, although he courted controversy at times for a perceived lack of professionalism and suffered a dip in form, he cemented his place at the top of the game by sealing the 2010 World Cup with Spain.

Strengths: Ramos boasts real versatility but his finest asset is his impressive stamina and determination to provide an attacking threat from right-back. He complements his robust defending by providing a real threat at set-pieces.

Weaknesses: His admirable endeavour can leave him exposed at times, particularly when his sense of positioning is awry following a foray forward. His temperament has also been questioned after a string of red cards in recent seasons.

Career high: Winning the 2010 World Cup with Spain.

Career low: Being dropped by then Real boss Bernd Schuster in October 2008 after criticising his tactics and expressing his discontent.

Style: Marauding, enterprising, boisterous, a dangerous full-back.

Quotes: "He is so good that I think he will become one of the three best players in the world. No doubt, and he will become a Real legend and keep on scoring decisive goals." Former Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos, 2008.

Trivia: Sergio Ramos has the unique status of being the only Spaniard to have joined Real Madrid during Florentino Perez's first spell as president.