Who Received The Most Red Cards in Football?

Gerardo Bedoya is the professional football player with the most red cards in football history. The Colombian footballer was sent-off 46 times in his 21-year career. Bedoya got sent off for nine different clubs during his infamous career. He was sent off 14 times during two stints at Deportivo Cali (1998-2001 & 2003). 

Nicknamed “The Beast” for his brutal tackling and physical style of play, the defender-turned-defensive midfielder played 552 senior football matches for 13 clubs across South America. Bedoya played for clubs in Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico. He played 49 internationals for Colombia but was only red-carded once.

Moreover, Bedoya moved into management after retirement. He was sent off 21 minutes into his first assistant job at Santa Fe. He was last sent off for Santa Fe during the 2020/21 season. This, incidentally, was the last red card issued to him. However, as the records show, Colombian hot-head has always been combustible. It is only a matter of time before the red mists descend. 

Bedoya is one of many football warriors who often overstepped the line between hardman and dirty. South America is renowned for aggressive-style football, fights, riots, and red cards. SportsBoom searched for other infamous card collectors to see how they stack up against Bedoya: This is what we found.

Most Red Cards in the 21st century

Number one for the most red cards in the 21st century is Sergio Ramos. This is no surprise. His career is littered with cards. He is the second-most red-carded player in history behind Bedoya. The Spanish defender gained notoriety for sending-offs during his time at Real Madrid. Ramos collected 29 red cards in football, seven more than second-placed Felipe Melo (22). 

Ramos has the dubious honour of holding multiple disciplinary records for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, El Clásico, and Spain. No player in Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues has received more cards than the ill-disciplined Spanish defender. He is the most-carded player in La Liga history, receiving 191 total cards. Twenty-one of those cards were red.

He has been booked 40 times in the Champions League and sent off four times. Three of those red cards were straight reds. He is the most-carded player in European competition history and tied first for sending-offs. Ramos is also the most-carded and most-capped player in Spanish football history. He was carded 24 times in 180 international appearances. 

Ramos, currently playing at home-town club Sevilla, was cautioned eight times and red carded once in 28 matches in 2023/24. He received one yellow in the Copa del Rey and two cautions in the Champions League. His season total ended with eleven yellow cards and one red card. 

Which Goalkeeper Has the Most Red Cards in Football?

Goalkeepers tend to be mavericks between the sticks. There have always been rash ‘keepers, but Jens Lehmann stands above the rest. He collected the most red cards for a goalkeeper in football history. The German shot-stopper was sent off seven times in his 25-year professional career. 

Lehmann’s most infamous red card was in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final. The then-Arsenal goalie got his marching orders for a professional foul on Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o in the 18th minute. He is the only goalkeeper to be sent off in a European Cup/Champions League final.

Diego López and Daniel Aranzubia are equal second behind Lehmann. Both Spanish goalkeepers got sent off five times in their careers. Pepe Reina received four red cards, the same as Oliver Kahn (Germany) and Jussi Jääskeläinen (Finland).

In conclusion, Spain has two or more representatives on the most red cards in football lists. Ramos and Delgado make the most red cards in football and 21st-century charts. López, Aranzubia, and Reina sit near the top of all-time goalkeeper red cards in football history. Vamos La Roja!