Sergio Ramos Earns 30th Red Card as Monterrey Beats Pumas UNAM in Liga MX Clash

Sergio Ramos Hits Milestone Red Card in Monterrey's Liga MX Win

Few defenders are as notorious as Sergio Ramos when it comes to walking the line — and sometimes crossing it. He did it again on March 17, 2025, this time in a Monterrey shirt, earning the 30th red card of his career during a 3-1 home victory against Pumas UNAM. Even as he nears the tail end of his playing days, Ramos finds ways to keep marshals, opponents, and fans glued to every unpredictable moment he creates on the pitch.

The moment of drama unfolded deep into stoppage time. Monterrey were leading 3-1, the points practically in the bag after goals from Canales, Fimbres, and Berterame. But Ramos, brought in for his experience and grit just a month earlier, lost his cool. Pumas striker Guillermo Martínez was fouled, and as the ball slid out of play, Ramos kicked Martínez for good measure. The referee had no choice. Up came the red, Ramos trudged off, and a familiar talking point was back in circulation across Mexican football: Does Ramos ever learn?

Monterrey's Triumph Overshadowed by Ramos' Reputation

Before the chaos, Monterrey had been in control. They built a comfortable cushion with precise finishing, demonstrated by Canales' opener, Fimbres doubling the advantage, and Berterame putting a bow on the result. Pumas, trying desperately to stay in the match, nearly had a route back when they believed they had scored a second-half goal. But that strike was ruled out—a hotly debated call that left Pumas' bench fuming and the Monterrey faithful breathing a sigh of relief. Eventually, Martínez did get on the scoresheet, but by then the damage was done.

Even with all eyes on their veteran defender, Monterrey have reason to be pleased. The win lifted them to eighth place in the Clausura table, putting them back into contention for the playoff spots. Pumas find themselves stalled in eleventh with 14 points, their own path to the top looking bumpier with every dropped point. For Ramos, it's a weird time to hit a personal milestone — notching his first red card in Mexican football so soon after arriving from Europe.

You can't talk Ramos without mentioning his history. Back in Europe, he ran up 28 red cards for Real Madrid, collecting another with Sevilla before packing his bags for Liga MX. In just five games for Monterrey, he's already scored three goals — proving he's not only there to break up attacks but also to build them. But the stories that stick are still about his aggression. For younger defenders, he's a master class on what to do and what not to do, all rolled into one fiery package.

For Monterrey, balancing Ramos’ firebrand style with the discipline required for a title push will be one of their big questions for the remainder of the season. But, as history has shown, wherever Ramos plays, football isn’t just a game — it’s a live show that can turn dramatic at any moment. On this night, it was the old villain stealing headlines, again.