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#3 Pepe
At his peak, Pepe was one of the most feared centre-backs in the game. He formed a near-impenetrable defensive partnership with Sergio Ramos at the heart of Real Madrid’s defence.
While he was highly regarded for his defensive prowess, Pepe also earned a reputation for being reckless. Hence, it is no surprise that Pepe has been booked a whopping 162 times, including six double-yellow offenses and six red cards.
Now at Porto, Pepe picked up two bookings in six Champions League appearances last season. However, he more than makes up for his bookings with consistent and solid performances in the backline. He played a pivotal role in Porto’s run to the quarter-finals of the competition last season.
Pepe enjoyed a trophy-laden decade-long stay in the Spanish capital, where he won the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA SuperCup, to name a few.
#2 Granit Xhaka
Arsenal’s man in the middle of the park has made a habit of consistently picking up bookings, with ten yellow cards to his name in three successive seasons.
Granit Xhaka ended the unwanted streak in the 2020-21 Premier League campaign, where he picked up six yellow cards. In his three previous league seasons, though, Xhaka did not receive a direct red card. The Swiss international was shown a straight red against Burnley in the 2020-21 Premier League, a game the Gunners lost 1-0 to the visitors.
In over 450 career games, Xhaka has been booked 112 times, including seven double-yellow and four straight reds. He averages a disciplinary action (yellow or red card) every 3.78 appearances.
#1 Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos is considered by many to be the greatest centre-half in the past decade, and is undoubtedly one of the most decorated players in history.
The Spaniard has won every trophy he has competed for at international and club level. That includes the FIFA World Cup, Euros, Champions League, La Liga and FIFA Club World Cup, to name a few.
Ramos is one of the highest-scoring centre-backs in the game's history. The four-time Champions League winner has scored seven goals in the knockout stage of the Champions League - the most by any defender in competition history.
Ramos has made over 700 appearances in his club career, so it is no surprise that he is the most booked player in the 21st century, given his propensity to fly in for tackles and dangerous challenges.
The Spaniard has received a whopping 226 bookings in club football, along with 26 sending offs. Moreover, Sergio Ramos has also picked up 24 yellow cards in 180 appearances for Spain.
