Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos has always enjoyed a reputation as a defender who can score goals. He is someone who can be as effective in the opposition’s 18-yard box as in his own. But even by his own standards, the Spaniard’s goalscoring record has been very impressive so far this season.
In the current campaign, Ramos has already scored six goals in the league in just 15 appearances. Many of Europe’s top marksmen are way behind Ramos’ haul. Furthermore, the 30-year-old defender has found the net twice outside the league competition and looks well on course to hit double figures this campaign, in what is already his most prolific (in terms of goals scored) campaign.
Here, we will take a look at five attacking players (who have featured in at least 15 matches) whom Ramos has outscored (only league matches).
#1 Karim Benzema – 5 goals
Apart from some inspired displays in the Champions League, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has not been able to perform to the level expected of him. For someone who had scored 24 goals in 27 league matches last season, a return of only five in 18 matches in the La Liga is very poor, to put it politely.
One of the reasons for the poor return can be attributed to the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is now more of a centre forward than a winger and the Frenchman has had to drift wide.
A more insightful look at the statistics reveals that in this season, Benzema has so far managed only 0.80 shots per game (his worst shot per game ratio since joining Madrid). This has consequently resulted in a dip in the number of goals.
The very fact that his teammate Ramos (who obviously is a defender) has scored more in fewer appearances than him, is enough to raise questions about the striker’s form. Maybe, Ramos can take up his position up front!
#2 Kevin De Bruyne – 4 goals
Surprisingly, Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne finds his name on this list. He is known more as a creator than a scorer, and has been one of the most consistent performers for Manchester City this season. But only four league goals in 24 league appearances is not what fans expect from someone of his calibre.
De Bruyne has been excellent and the lack of goals can be attributed more to Pep Guardiola’s style of play rather than the player’s shortcomings. One must not forget that he has provided nine assists already and he is only behind Christian Eriksen in the Premier League.
However, Guardiola has used him as a deep lying playmaker in his system, something that Andres Iniesta has done so successfully at Barcelona. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder missed out on a couple of weeks of action with an injury.
But then again, the fact that he has only netted four times, which is two less than Ramos’ tally so far puts De Bruyne on this list.
#3 Riyad Mahrez – 3 goals
Riyad Mahrez was the most potent attacking influence in Leicester’s title-winning XI last season. Scoring 17 goals and assisting a further 11 times, he went on to win the PFA Player of the Year award to end the fairy-tale season. However, the Algerian has since failed to replicate last year’s high-level of performances.
Undoubtedly talented, Mahrez has just not been able to produce this season and has drawn criticism from all corners. With his dip in form, Leicester have found themselves fighting an unlikely relegation battle. Without a goal since November, the 26-year-old’s goal tally stands at a meagre three so far in this campaign.
While many believe that his head was turned in the summer with the speculation surrounding his transfer, others opine that he was yet another one-season wonder. Whatever the reasons may be, Mahrez has looked a mere shadow of himself in terms of finishing and creating chances.
#4 Dimitri Payet – 3 goals
Dimitri Payet went from hero to traitor within a matter of days at West Ham when in January he forced a move out of the club. After a breakthrough season last year, in which he scored nine goals and assisted 12 times for his club and helped France to the Euro Cup final, his form dipped drastically.
He struggled to find his form with the Hammers through the first half of the season and was able to find the back of the net only two goals in 18 league appearances. Then, of course, came the entire saga of him joining Olympique Marseille in the winter transfer window.
But even the move to France has, so far, not been as fruitful as he would have hoped. The 29-year-old has been evidently lacking in match practice. Although he did score one goal against Guingamp, he has been less than ordinary.
Overall, Payet has scored just thrice in 23 league matches this season and is well behind Ramos.
#5 Thomas Muller – 1 goal
Thomas Muller has been a vital cog in Bayern Munich’s starting XI for the last seven years. His worth has never been in doubt, and his starting place uncontested. However, for the first time in his illustrious career, the German World Cup winner is in a mini-crisis.
In football, things can change very quickly. Muller’s dramatic decline is the most recent illustration of that; he looks lost and statistics speak for themselves. While last season, he scored 32 goals across all competitions, this season he has managed just five, and just one in the league.
At one point in time, the 27-year-old’s positioning was superb, ghosting in to score and assist and being a nuisance for the opposition backline. Once, he was the heart and soul of Bayern’s attacks. Now, he is invariably the weakest link. While some have ascribed his dip in form to Carlo Ancelotti’s tactics, that is only partly true.
Muller’s name on this list is possibly the biggest surprise of them all.
