Chelsea icon Ramires gets tattoo of iconic Champions League goal vs Barcelona after announcing retirement aged 35
FORMER Chelsea star Ramires has marked his retirement by getting his memorable Champions League goal against Barcelona tattooed on his leg.
The 35-year-old scored 34 goals during six seasons in English football, with the most notable coming at the Nou Camp back in 2012.
With Chelsea trailing 2-1 on aggregate after Barca wiped out their first leg advantage, and down to 10 men following John Terry‘s red card, Ramires took matters into his own hands in first half stoppage-time.
Having been sent through by Frank Lampard, Ramires beat both Carlos Puyol and Sergio Busquets to the ball before exquisitely chipping over Victor Valdes to bring Chelsea level in the tie and ahead on away goals.
Ultimately, the game was more remembered for Fernando Torres’ late strike, which sealed Chelsea’s place in the Champions League final.
But Ramires’ goal was still equally as important, with the Blues going on to win the competition for the first time ever after beating Bayern Munich on their own patch on penalties in the final.
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Unfortunately, Ramires was booked later in the game against Barcelona, which meant he was suspended for the showpiece in the German capital.
Nevertheless, the 35-year-old, who’s set to call time on his career having been without a club since leaving Palmeiras back in 2020, has marked the semi-final occasion by getting the moment tattooed on his right leg.
Chelsea fans reacted to the tattoo on Twitter, with one calling it a ‘so beautiful’, while another described it as ‘unforgettable’.
Ramires would spend four more years at Stamford Bridge before leaving for Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning, although only after adding the Premier League, Europa League and League Cup to his medal collection with the Blues.
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He rounded off his playing days by returning home to Brazil, with his final professional game coming for Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores almost two years ago.
Ramires has been a free agent since his departure in November 2020, but has only now decided to officially hang up his boots.