More than anything, discipline is an essential aspect of football. Its players are expected to adhere to the rules and regulations of the game. However, several players have gained notoriety for their frequent misconduct on the field. These individuals eventually end up racking up the title of players with the most red cards.
Players such as Paolo Montero and Sergio Ramos are infamous for their behavior on the field. As a result, they have accumulated an astonishing number of red cards, showcasing a lack of control and sportsmanship. Some of these players ended up retiring early due to frequent benching or dismissal at games. Read on as we talk about some of the players with the most red cards ever.
Discipline plays a vital role in football which the following footballers have proven the vice versa.
Gerardo Bedoya
Gerardo Bedoya is a Colombian footballer who earned himself the reputation as the soccer player with the most red cards in history. Throughout his career, he received a staggering number of red cards which amounted to 46 in total. It is clear that Bedoya does not hesitate to demonstrate his fierce side, sometimes showing his reckless playing style. The respectable former player was known for his aggressive tackles and confrontational nature on the field.
Sergio Ramos
As a former captain of Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos frequently found himself in the referee’s book. While admired for his leadership qualities and defensive prowess, Ramos has also amassed a significant number of red cards. The outstanding player is known for his fiery temperament, his aggressive challenges and occasional altercations. Sergio’s actions have resulted in numerous dismissals on several occasions throughout his career.

Cyril Rool
Cyril Rool is a former French footballer known for being the player with the most red cards in a single football season. During the 2006-2007 season, while playing for Nice, Rool received a staggering six red cards. Throughout the entirety of his career, the notable footballer has acquired 27 red cards. This unfortunate accolade has solidified his name in football history, although its barely for the most admirable reason.
Alex Ruano Delgado
Commonly known as Alex, Ruano Delgado is a Spanish footballer who has had his fair share of disciplinary issues on the field. Playing mostly as a defender, he has always been known for his aggressive style of play. Alex’s combative approach led to him to become one of the players with the most red cards. Throughout his career, the eminent sportsperson seemed to constantly push the boundaries of what is seen as acceptable in the game of football.
Paolo Montero
Who has the most red cards in soccer history? Former Uruguayan defender, Paolo Montero has an astonishing record of receiving red cards in his career. Especially known for his intimidating physique, his disciplinary issues ended up overshadowing his defensive abilities. Consequently, Montero garnered 21 red cards, making himself infamous among football players and fans.
Rafael Marquez
Rafael Marquez is a former Mexican footballer and former captain of the national team. Arguably, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation. However, Marquez has also acquired a reputation for his poor discipline on the field and acquired the most red cards on his team. With 21 red cards to his name, the beloved soccer player’s pushy and sometimes irresponsible strategies have often dimmed his ability as a defender.
Felipe Melo
Felipe Melo is a Brazilian midfielder known for his fiery temperament and combative playing style. For the entirety of his career, he has been involved in several high-profile incidents, resulting in numerous red cards. Melo’s aggressive nature and lack of control have often put him into altercations with opponents and officials. As a result, the admirable athlete made himself a magnet for disciplinary action, resulting in twenty red cards.

Matteo Contini
Matteo Contini is one of those defenders who was known for having a troubled relationship with the referee. He built himself a reputation for excessive aggression and consistent fouling. Throughout his career, the well-liked sportsman accumulated an extraordinary number of red cards. It is his lack of discipline on the field that often hindered his team’s progress and tainted his overall image as a professional footballer.
Fernando Amorebieta
Fernando Amorebieta is another footballer who is barely a stranger to disciplinary issues. His primary role being that of a center-back, his playing style was frequently confrontational and led to multiple red cards. At the moment, Amorebieta has 19 red cards from his career as an on-field footballer. Although his commitment and determination were commendable, his inability to control his temper proved to be challenging for both himself and his team.
Gary Medel
What player has the most red cards? Born in Chile, Gary Medel is known as a tenacious soccer player on the field. However, it is his combative playing style that often resulted in disciplinary action. Medel garnered a substantial number of red cards throughout his career. His pushy tactics and confrontational demeanor made him one of the most red cards players to watch out for.
Gerardo Torrado
Among the players with the most red cards, Gerardo Torrado stands out as one of Mexico’s most famous footballers. Throughout his career, Torrado earned himself a total of 13 red cards. Consequently, the popularized footballer left a trail suspensions and missed games in his wake. Despite being a skilled midfielder, he gave in to his aggression numerous times which led to his eventual dismissal.
Pablo Alfaro
Pablo Alfaro is a Spanish player notorious for his aggressive style of play. Apart from having 18 red cards to his name, he also holds the record for the most dismissals in Spanish football history. Alfaro was even nicknamed ‘The Surgeon’ for his combative tactics on the football pitch. His fierce tackling and relentless pursue earned him a place in the many conversations, making him a feared opponent on the field.
Deividas Semberas
Presenting an intimidating presence, Deividas Semberas used it to display his defensive skills. However, the Lithuanian footballer had an unyielding commitment to tackling and frequently crossed the line. Upon retirement as an on-field footballer, the celebrated athlete had been given a total of 15 red cards. Although it proved his admirable dedication to his team, it often landed him in trouble with referees who often disqualified him from on-going matches.
Yannick Cahuzac
Who has the most red cards in soccer? Especially noted for his persistence, Yannick Cahuzac repeatedly made headlines for his fiery on-field personality. Currently, he has a tally of 14 red cards to his name. Most of Cahuzac’s battles in midfield usually turned into careless challenges. It is no wonder that the well-respected sporstperson holds the record of receiving three red cards in a span of four games in the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 season.
Gonzalo Rodriguez
Gonzalo Rodriguez is an defender from Argentina who has some of the most red cards in soccer. With 12 dismissals during his career, his assertive style of play has often landed him in hot water. Unfortunately, it ended up staining a rather successful career. Rodriguez’s ability and commanding presence on the field often put fear into the hearts of opposing attackers.
Fast facts about players with most red cards
- Who has the most red cards in football history? Gerardo Bedoya holds the record for the most red cards. He has a total of 46 red cards to his name.
- Who is the most carded player ever? Out of his 601 matches, Bedoya earned 46 red cards. He is the most carded player ever in the history of football.
- How many red cards does Alexis have? Alexis Delgado has a total of 22 red cards.
- What is a red card in soccer? It is a card given to players for various reasons such as serious foul play and violent misconduct. A player who receives it is removed from the game and is unable to player for rest of the ongoing match.
Conclusion
Every football player is required to maintain a level of discipline and control on the field. However, some individuals have struggled to adhere to these standards. Such athletes end up being the players with the most red cards. As football fans, we can only hope that the next generation of players learns from their mistakes and strives to maintain a level of discipline and therefore fair play in the game.

[…] limited his opportunities for advancement in the sport. While some may argue that Bedoya’s aggressive playing style was necessary for his success, others believe that his disciplinary record ultimately hindered his […]