Defender Sergio Ramos is finally getting the recognition he has long fought for.
Ramos has long been a fixture on the back-end for Spain and Real Madrid and had a tremendous year as he was a major contributor in both squads' success over the last year. His move to center-back was a revelation for both coaches Jose Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque as he stabilized Madrid's defense and added a new dimension to Spain's as well.
During the Euro 2012 he was a major part of Spain's phenomenal defense that only conceded one goal during the entire tournament. He shut down a stingy French side and was the man in charge of limiting Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema. He was also in charge of shutting down Cristiano Ronaldo in the semi-final match against Portugal, another task he succeeded in admirably.
As an added bonus for his incredible year, Ramos added on the best goal celebrations in recent memory when he did a mid air flip after scoring against France in a World Cup qualifying match.
Biggest Moment of the Year: Scoring the Panenka penalty kick against Portugal with a finals berth on the line, his composure in the shootout correlated beautifully with his demeanor in stressful defensive circumstances.
Chances at the Top Three: He is a wild card. He has won two major trophies and has been one of the most consistent players of the year. Iker Casillas recently stated that he would vote for Ramos as his first option because of his solid performance in the Spanish League and Euro Cup.
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