Have you ever thought about which soccer players have received the highest number of red cards throughout the history of the game?
Hard men over the years have left their mark with their tough-tackles, ill-tempered and uncalled-for behavior which leaves their victims crying for help on the pitch.
In soccer ‘red cards’ are one of the most significant disciplinary actions taken by an official be it the center referee or assistant when a player misbehaves.
While it’s an established fact that red cards result from violent conduct, abusive language, and serious tackle towards an official or opponent it must also be noted that ‘yellow and red cards’ were first implemented in 1970.
Soccer players with the most goals, assists, and clean sheets are often seen as the hero of the game, while players who lack discipline or got sent off from the pitch are referred to as villains.
- 10 Soccer Players With The Most Red Cards
- Gerardo Bedoya – (46 Red Cards)
- Sergio Ramos – (28 Red Cards)
- Cyril Rool – (27 Red Cards)
- Ruano Delgado – (22 Red Cards)
- Rafael Marquez – (21 Red Cards)
- Paolo Montero – (21 Red Cards)
- Matteo Contini – (20 Red Cards)
- Felipe Melo – (20 Red Cards)
- Fernando Amorebieta – (19 Red Cards)
- Gary Medel – (18 Red Cards)
10 Soccer Players With The Most Red Cards
Gerardo Bedoya – (46 Red Cards)
A total of 46 red cards for Bedoya absolutely shows the high level of his indiscipline on the pitch.
The Colombian may not be one of the players that play with finesse, but he’s certainly one of the hard men that left their mark on the beautiful game of soccer with his tough tackles.
As an active player, Bedoya donned the shirts of Racing Club and Boca Juniors in the Argentine SuperLiga, where he made himself really famous by getting into trouble with the referees.
Even as a coach after retirement Bedoya’s ill-tempered adrenaline still runs in his vein, following his sent-off just 21 minutes into his coaching debut in 2016.
Sergio Ramos – (28 Red Cards)
The second player who is still active on our list is no other than former Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos, who has been sent off the most number of times in the last decades.
Ramos picked up his 27th and 28th red cards of his professional career in a Ligue 1 match against Lorient and Reims in 2022 respectively.
During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, he received a total of 26 red cards, 21 in La Liga, four in the Champions League, and one in Copa del Rey.
While Ramos is the most booked Spanish player in the 21st century, the interesting thing about him is that he never received a red card at the national level.
Cyril Rool – (27 Red Cards)
Rool’s name is perhaps not the most familiar or popular in terms of achievements, but in terms of being popular for indiscipline on the pitch referees in France can attest to his popularity.
The French defensive-midfielder spent the entirety of his club career in France where he played for Bastia, Lens, and Nice.
Rool was so indisciplined that he racked up over 187-yellow cards and a total of 27 red cards before he retired from the game.
Aside from being known as one of the most indiscipline players, he’s also well renowned for his rough tackle which gave him the nickname ‘notorious wind-up merchant’.
Ruano Delgado – (22 Red Cards)
Delgado is another ill-tempered player who makes it into our list of footballers with the most red cards in the history of the game with a total of 22 in his career.
The Spaniard will be remembered for his bust-up with former Croatia international, Mario Mandzukic when he punched him in the face during a game.
Before bidding farewell to the game, he had over 321 appearances across many clubs in Spain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia during the twilight of his club career.
Rafael Marquez – (21 Red Cards)
Marquez‘s name will forever go down in the history of the game as one of the finest defenders to ever play, both at national and club level for how talented and gifted he was as a professional footballer.
While the above statement paints him in good light as a brilliant player, it must also be noted that he wasn’t one of the most disciplined players around considering his red cards stats.
The former Barcelona and Mexico captain had a very successful football career, winning two Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles with the Blaugrana but in terms of his discipline on the pitch, he wasn’t that successful.
Paolo Montero – (21 Red Cards)
Call him one of Serie A’s most ruthless and deadliest defenders, you won’t be wrong due to his belief in winning at all costs even if it meant committing fouls.
Montero may have retired as a player, but his record of the highest number of red cards received in Serie A history still stands with a total number of 21 red cards.
“Sometimes you have to do anything to win and this is my nature”. “Cheating referee is not a sin if it helps your team to win”.
As an enthusiast of the game, if you go by his statements you’ll understand the legendary defender understands the antics and dark art of the game perfectly.
Matteo Contini – (20 Red Cards)
If there’s any adjective that best describes Contini, perhaps defensive hard-man would fit perfectly considering his qualities as a defender and how hotheaded he could be.
The former Italy defender was a tenacious and tough player who often got into the books of the referee for his moment of madness on the pitch.
Contini was a renowned player during his days at Napoli, unfortunately, he wasn’t as famous for his discipline as some of Italy’s greats who are ruthless, and tough but never exhibited some sort of indiscipline.
The former Napoli defender didn’t only wear the jersey of the Naples outfit, he also played for AC Milan, Parma, and Real Zaragoza in Spain.
Felipe Melo – (20 Red Cards)
For a player who described himself as a ‘pitbull‘ who runs, chases down, and bites his opponents on the pitch, then as a soccer aficionado, you shouldn’t be surprised he’s included in this list.
Melo is perhaps the most famous indiscipline player who loses his cool often in a game, and in regards to that the red card he got in a World Cup quarterfinal against Netherlands gives credence to that.
While the former Juventus midfielder is well renowned for his passion and aggressiveness on the pitch, his understanding and knowledge of the game is absolutely second to none.
Fernando Amorebieta – (19 Red Cards)
For a player who made headlines during the ‘Superclasico’ involving the two most successful and popular clubs from the Asuncion region in 2019, you won’t be surprised he racked up 19 red cards.
In that game Amorebieta‘s moment of madness got him send off after biting and headbutting legendary Paraguay’s forward Roque Santa Cruz in a match he scored four goals.
Amorebieta spent most of his club career in p the Spanish league with Athletic Club but also had a stint in England with Fulham and Middlesbrough.
Gary Medel – (18 Red Cards)
As a soccer coach who is a fan of fierce, ruthless, and commanding character on the pitch you’ll probably agree with me such a player is one to opt for in a crunch game.
While the above encomiums are best in describing Medel for his dexterity on the pitch, unfortunately, the same praises had also invited a lot of trouble for him when adrenaline runs high on the pitch.
As a professional a tough one at that, the Vasco Da Gama defensive-midfielder has racked up a total of 18 Red cards in his career, and would probably add more before he bid farewell to the game.
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