On the eve of the Champions League clash between Chelsea and Benfica, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit a player often underrated, but always invaluable. Ramires – the diamond in the heart of midfield.
Early Years
Ramires began his career at Joinville before moving to Cruzeiro. There, he made 97 appearances, scoring 29 goals and providing 11 assists – impressive numbers for a midfielder. Scouts from Benfica quickly spotted his talent, and in May 2009 he joined the Portuguese giants for €7.5 million, with a buyout clause of €30 million.
He would only spend one season in Lisbon, but it was unforgettable. Ramires helped Benfica end a five-year wait for the league title, while also winning the League Cup. A remarkable domestic double in his first and only season in Portugal. In total, he played 43 matches, scoring 5 goals and providing 6 assists.
The Move to England
In August 2010, Ramires joined Chelsea for €22 million. The season started brightly for the Blues with five straight Premier League wins. Ramires made his debut against Stoke City in the third round and went on to feature 41 times across all competitions, scoring twice.
Often deployed as a right-sided midfielder in a 4-4-2, his natural position always seemed deeper in central midfield. Despite his contributions, Chelsea endured a disappointing campaign. They failed to defend their league title after leading for much of the season, crashed out of the League Cup to Newcastle in the third round, and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Everton on penalties. In Europe, things weren’t much better, as Manchester United eliminated them in the Champions League quarter-finals. At the end of the season, double-winning manager Carlo Ancelotti was dismissed.
The Big Success
The following season would be Ramires’ most successful. Chelsea pulled off a historic double – their first ever Champions League trophy and a seventh FA Cup. André Villas-Boas replaced Ancelotti at the helm, but after failing to live up to expectations, he was sacked in March. His assistant, Roberto Di Matteo, took over and changed the course of the season.
Despite finishing just sixth in the Premier League, Chelsea embarked on a legendary Champions League run, knocking out Napoli, Benfica, and Barcelona on their way to the final. Ramires was instrumental, especially against Barça – providing the decisive assist for Didier Drogba’s winner in the first leg, and then scoring a stunning chip over Víctor Valdés in the return leg at the Camp Nou. Sadly, a suspension kept him out of the final, but Chelsea triumphed over Bayern Munich thanks to Drogba’s late equalizer and penalty shootout heroics.
Ramires also shone in the FA Cup that season, scoring four goals (including in the final against Liverpool) and adding an assist. In total, he registered 12 goals and 5 assists – the most prolific season of his career.
More Silverware
Ramires’ glory days at Chelsea didn’t stop there. A year after winning the Champions League, he lifted the Europa League, ironically against his former club Benfica in a 2–1 victory. Further success came in the 2014/15 season with a Premier League title and League Cup triumph under José Mourinho.
Though he only started 11 league matches that season, Ramires remained an important squad figure. Following Mourinho’s dismissal, interim boss Guus Hiddink oversaw his departure in January 2016, as Ramires moved to Jiangsu Suning in China. The transfer proved underwhelming, and after a year without professional football, he returned to Brazil to play for Palmeiras.
His spell there was short, lasting just over a year, but he still collected medals from the Brazilian league, the national cup, and the Copa Libertadores before calling time on his career.
How He Will Be Remembered
Ramires managed to leave his mark in some of the world’s toughest competitions. He conquered England, Portugal, and Brazil. He shone on both the European and South American stages. With his pace, agility, work rate, and commitment, he won the hearts of millions of fans around the globe.
He was the ultimate team player – a tireless worker who always put the collective above individual glory. But if one moment defines his career, it has to be that iconic goal against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, when he silenced the Spanish giants and paved the way for Chelsea’s first ever Champions League triumph.
