Sergio Ramos has not called time on his playing career, but the veteran defender is finding it increasingly difficult to secure a team for his final years on the pitch.
As he approaches the later stages of his life, the former Real Madrid and Spain captain recently reflected on his childhood in a resurfaced interview with GQ magazine, detailing a youth spent away from screens and heavily influenced by martial arts, flamenco music, and strict study schedules.
Ramos recalled a childhood defined by physical play. His favourite toys were Playmobil figures, for which he said he had a great devotion, though he also spent much of his day playing football in the street with friends.
The defender said his generation grew up without tablets, social media or video consoles. Growing up near the countryside, he remembered spending days making bows and shooting arrows in an environment he described as slightly wilder than today, but one that brought him closer to reality.
Early football idols and Brazilian flair
Though football became his profession, Ramos admitted he had other influences first. His bedroom featured a Karate Kid poster because he practiced karate and felt a special attraction to martial arts.
He also kept a poster of the Brazilian playmaker Rivaldo. Ramos explained that he played as a winger and a forward as a boy, which meant his idols were players in contact with the goal.
He said he loved the way Rivaldo played, adding that he had always been a big fan of Brazil. He noted that the Brazilian national teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s were great squads.
Ramos also admired the Argentinian forward Claudio Caniggia and the Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario, noting that his favourites were always attackers. Despite his later success anchoring the Spanish national team, he said his childhood heroes were foreign forwards, even though he was patriotic and painted his face in Spain's colours.
Choosing football over tennis
Karate was more than just an after-school activity. Ramos said the martial art gave him security and helped him face his fears while growing up surrounded by other children in his neighbourhood and at school.
The physical exertion also helped him clear his head and sleep better. Ramos said his mother loved this benefit because he would arrive home extremely tired and sleep soundly.
When the time came to specialise, Ramos faced a choice between football and tennis. He said he was particularly good with a racket and doubted which sport to pursue.
He committed to football at 11 years old. The defender joked that it was the right decision, noting that the Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal was born in the same year, meaning Ramos would have faced severe competition had he chosen the court.
Flamenco music and academic discipline
A guitar is also among his key childhood memories, representing a family passion for flamenco that he said has been passed from generation to generation.
Ramos cited artists such as Remedios Amaya, Niña Pastori, Camarón, Siempre Así and Triana Pura as the soundtrack to his youth, instilled in him by his family from a young age.
Alongside music, his parents enforced a strict study schedule that he said was non-negotiable. While he preferred playing with friends, Ramos acknowledged that his parents were clear that academic training was the priority.
He enjoyed history because it taught him about his origins, and he excelled at mathematics and drawing. The defender said his enduring desire to paint stems from that early aptitude for drawing.
Passing lessons to the next generation
Ramos, who grew up in a humble family that never lacked food, said he wants his children to understand their background and the effort required to succeed.
He noted that society has evolved enormously since he was a boy, bringing both pros and cons. While his current economic situation provides his children with opportunities he did not have, he stressed the importance of keeping the effort behind his achievements present.
He said he does not want his children to lose perspective of where their family comes from, and wants them to understand that achieving anything in life demands a very big effort.
The defender said his primary lesson for his children is to value everything they have, respect everyone, and understand that success requires dedication and immense effort.
