The Dirtiest XI in Football History: A Team of Red Card Legends

July 19, 2025 Oliver Obel

Football has always celebrated skill, spirit, and determination — but some players have made headlines just as often for their fiery tempers. This starting XI isn’t about tactical brilliance or dazzling goals; it’s a rogue’s gallery of football’s most notorious hotheads. From the back to the front, these players racked up a staggering 249 red cards combined, cementing their legacies as some of the game’s most combustible characters.

Jens Lehmann – Goalkeeper – 7 Red Cards

As a goalkeeper, being sent off seven times is no small feat. Lehmann’s most infamous moment came in the 2006 Champions League final when he was dismissed for a foul on Samuel Eto’o — the first red card ever shown in the competition’s showpiece event.

Sergio Ramos – Right-Back – 29 Red Cards

Sergio Ramos is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation, but also as one of the most aggressive. With 29 red cards, including recent ones for Sevilla, he somehow avoided being sent off even once for Spain in over 180 appearances.

Pablo Alfaro – Centre-Back – 27 Red Cards

Alfaro was a brutal tackler who made his mark — quite literally — in Spanish football. As a senior figure at Sevilla, he even mentored a young Ramos, forming a partnership that together totaled over 50 red cards.

Alexis Ruano Delgado – Centre-Back – 22 Red Cards

Alexis Ruano built a reputation for chaos, collecting 22 red cards across Spain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. His most infamous dismissal came after punching Mario Mandzukic, which earned him a four-match suspension.

Paolo Montero – Left-Back – 21 Red Cards

Montero brought Uruguayan grit to Serie A, where he was sent off a record 15 times. Known for his confrontational style, Ryan Giggs once named him one of the toughest defenders he had ever faced.

Gerardo Bedoya – Central Midfield – 46 Red Cards

Bedoya holds the all-time record for red cards, with a staggering 46 in his career. Nicknamed “The Beast,” he was sent off for everything from reckless tackles to outright assaults — including one that earned him a 15-match suspension.

Cyril Rool – Central Midfield – 27 Red Cards

Rool was the definition of a no-nonsense midfielder, finishing his career with 27 red cards and 187 yellows. Playing entirely in France, he was best known for tough tackling and setting disciplinary records in Ligue 1.

Edgar Davids – Central Midfield – 25 Red Cards

Davids combined technical excellence with an explosive temper, leading to 25 red cards over his career. The Dutchman’s final sending-off came in his last professional match, during a player-manager stint at Barnet.

Ricardo Quaresma – Right Wing – 14 Red Cards

Despite his flair and creativity, Quaresma’s career was punctuated by moments of indiscipline. He was sent off 14 times, with nine of those coming during his turbulent spell at Besiktas.

Zlatan Ibrahimović – Left Wing – 15 Red Cards

Zlatan’s bold personality often turned into on-field outbursts, leading to 15 dismissals. Whether it was retaliation, dissent, or sheer stubbornness, the Swedish star never backed down from confrontation.

Francesco Totti – Striker – 16 Red Cards

Totti was Roma’s heart and soul, but his passion sometimes boiled over. His most notorious red card came after he kicked Mario Balotelli in 2010 — an incident so troubling he briefly considered retirement.