Ranking Sergio Ramos' 10 Most Important Goals for Real Madrid

Sergio Ramos was the man who came to Real Madrid's rescue once again at the weekend, netting a late winner against Real Betis to send his side back to the top of the table in La Liga.

It means the skipper is up to 10 goals for the season in all competitions, an incredible return for a centre-back with still two months of the season to go. It isn't just the quantity of goals Ramos manages that makes him such a crowd favourite, however; instead he has emerged as the big-moment player, the decisive impact when it matters most to Los Blancos.

Even this season, the winner against Betis wasn't the first time Ramos came to the rescue at an important moment, and in his dozen seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, he has amassed an impressive list of vital interventions for his team—here are the 10 most important goals he has scored, in reverse order.

10. Valencia, April 2007

In just his second season at the club, Ramos was already giving an indication of what was to come, scoring the winner just 15 minutes from time against Valencia to give his side a 2-1 success.

The game came just a handful of matches from the end of the 2006/07 season, with Real Madrid top and Valencia fourth heading into the fixture—and the win kept Real in top spot, leading to an eventual title success on head-to-head against Barcelona.

One single point less and Real would have had to settle for second yet again, but Ramos ensured Los Che would be vanquished and Madrid stayed on top.

9. Atletico Madrid, January 2011

One of Ramos' favourite opponents, and perhaps no surprise given he's the man for the big occasion.

Derby rivals Atletico came undone in the Copa del Rey this time; although it was los Rojiblancos who scored the opener in the quarter-final first leg, it was Ramos who got Real Madrid back on level terms before they went on to win 3-1.

Progression was duly assured in the return fixture, and Real Madrid went on to lift the cup itself at the end of the 2010/11 season, thanks in no small part to Ramos getting the team back on the right path so early on in the last eight.

8. Deportivo La Coruna, December 2016

Earlier on this season, Real Madrid were struggling at home against relegation-threatened Deportivo La Coruna, 2-1 down with a little over five minutes to play and looking like losing ground in the title race—as well as losing their own unbeaten run, which stood at the time at 34 successive matches.

Mariano Diaz popped up with an equaliser off the bench to at least spare Real's blushes, but it was captain Ramos who still had to have the last say, battering in a classic header to decimate Depor's hopes of a shock and send the fans into a frenzy.

How important could this goal turn out to be? Like the more recent winner against Betis, we'll have to wait until May; if Real win the title by a point or two, both late strikes could feasibly be elevated rather higher on our list.

7. Barcelona, December 2016

Another from '16/17, this time in el Clasico.

Luis Suarez had put Barcelona ahead at the Camp Nou, and it looked as though Barca would predictably be the team to end Real Madrid's unbeaten streak—this fixture came just over a week prior to the Depor win—but the Catalan side counted without Ramos striking.

In what has become a Ramos trademark, the No. 4 found the net in injury time to frustrate and irritate the opposition fans and earn adulation once more from his own supporters.

Real drew 1-1, stopped Barcelona regaining ground in the title fight and kept their own unbeaten run going—but once more, this goal could look considerably more important come the end of the season, particularly if head-to-head comes into the equation again.

6. Bayern Munich, April 2014

From domestic league to Champions League, Sergio Ramos knows how to make an impact.

The defender came to the fore at the unusual end of the pitch twice in European action against Bayern Munich in '13/14, scoring a brace in the space of four minutes at the Allianz Arena to put the tie well beyond the German club's reach.

Real went on to win 4-0 in Bavaria, 5-0 on aggregate and progress to the Champions League final, where they would meet city rivals Atletico...but more on that later.

5. Sevilla, August 2016

Another strike from this season!

Way back in August, Real got their campaign underway with the UEFA Super Cup and were staring at defeat, 2-1 down against Sevilla...until Ramos made his mark.

A close-range header in the final seconds of the game broke the hearts of Jorge Sampaoli and his new side, forcing extra time, during which Sevilla had a man sent off and Dani Carvajal powered in a late winner.

Another trophy fell the way of Real Madrid and Sergio Ramos, and once again he had made a telling contribution—albeit after Ramos had given away the penalty to put Sevilla ahead earlier in the game.

4. San Lorenzo, December 2014

In late 2014, Real Madrid were off for Club World Cup participation.

They comfortably saw off Cruz Azul in the semis, Ramos netting the opener in a routine 4-0 win, but the next game was the real target, the final—and yet again it was Sergio who found the breakthrough.

San Lorenzo were unable to contain him from a set piece, as have so many other teams before and since, and Ramos powered in a header to set Real on their way to being crowned the world's best team. Gareth Bale netted the second and the Argentinian side were vanquished 2-0.

3. Atletico Madrid, May 2016

Roll the clocks back less than a year and Real Madrid were celebrating the greatest triumph possible: lifting the Champions League trophy. Even better, they did it against their great rivals Atletico Madrid...and even better still, it was for the second time in three seasons.

Of course, Ramos had the telling impact, scoring the opener from close range just 15 minutes into the game, prodding home after Bale's flick-on.

Atleti equalised, but once the game went to penalties, it was Real who emerged triumphant—with Ramos confidently scoring his own, Real's fourth, before Juanfran missed the decisive spot-kick immediately after.

2. Barcelona, March 2007

If it's not Atletico, it's Barcelona—Ramos loves to score against them both.

His biggest moment for Real Madrid against their classic enemy came in 2007, heading toward the back-end of the season and with the two sides soon to be neck-and-neck in the title race.

A crazy, back-and-forth Clasico saw Ruud van Nistelrooy and Leo Messi trade braces in the opening half-hour before Ramos put Real ahead for a third time. It was an all-important strike in the context of the match and indeed the title race; although Barca went on to equalise once again before the end of the game, the 3-3 scoreline meant they didn't move any further ahead at the top of the table.

Not only that, but it gave Real Madrid the advantage on head-to-head...and by the end of the season, the two giants were locked on 76 points.

Ramos' goal and the subsequent draw meant Real had the edge and secured the '06/07 title as a result.

1. Atletico Madrid, May 2014

Of course, the most important goal has to be one that contributed directly to silverware in that very same game, and the silverware doesn't come much more important or memorable than the Champions League.

Two years before our No. 3 pick, the same sides met in the same competition final in a much more explosive game.

Atletico came within mere moments of triumph before Ramos (of course) rose to head home (of course) in stoppage time (of course), forcing extra time. A demoralised and exhausted Atletico capitulated, Real scored three times more and the trophy was theirs.

A classic night, the most memorable of interventions from Sergio Ramos and, without doubt, his most important goal for Real Madrid...so far, at least.