Ramires

Cruzeiro

In January 2008, Ramires agreed to a five-year deal with Cruzeiro in a permanent move from Joinville for a $300,000 transfer fee following a loan period, giving Cruzeiro 70% of the player's economic rights. Joinville kept 30% in the event of any transfers in the future. He was referred to by the fans and media during his time there as the "Queniano Azul", or "Blue Kenyan", due to Cruzeiro's blue kit and his endurance, which was considered reminiscent of Kenyan runners, who are famous for winning many Brazilian running marathons.

Benfica

On 21 May 2009, Ramires joined Portuguese club Benfica for a €7.5 million transfer fee on a five-year contract with a minimum fee release of €30 million. He starred as an important player for Benfica throughout the season, as the Portuguese club won their 32nd league title after a five-year wait. In his first and only season with Benfica, Ramires also won the Taça da Liga, defeating Porto 3–0. In June 2010, Benfica sold 50% of Ramires' economic rights to English player agency Jazzy Limited, directed by Kia Joorabchian, for €6 million.

Chelsea

On 4 August 2010, Benfica announced they had agreed a deal with defending English Premier League champions Chelsea and his third-party owner for €22 million. He completed his move to Chelsea on 13 August, signing a four-year contract. He was handed the number 7 shirt, previously worn by Ukrainian international Andriy Shevchenko.

2010–11 season

On 28 August…

On 21 July 2008, Ramires was named as the replacement for Robinho on the Brazil under-23 team for the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing. He appeared four times at the Olympics, as Brazil went on to earn the third-placed bronze medal. On 21 May 2009, Ramires was called up for the first time to the Brazil national team for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Ramires played his first match for the senior national team on 6 June 2009, a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Uruguay, in which he came as a substitute for Elano. Ramires scored his first International goal on 7 June 2010 against Tanzania leading up to the World Cup finals in South Africa. He scored again later on in the game setting the score to 5–1. In the Round of 16 at the World Cup, he made a run past three Chilean defenders to set up Robinho for the third goal in a 3–0 victory. Dunga, the then-Brazilian head coach, blamed their quarter-final loss to the Netherlands on the absence of Ramires, who was serving suspension. Ramires was named in a 23-man squad for the 2011 Copa América tournament held in Argentina. On 2 June, Ramires was named in Brazil's squad for the 2014 World Cup, held in Brazil. He featured in all seven matches – two starts – as they finished in fourth place.

Ramires was a central or right-sided midfielder who was known in particular for his pace, acceleration, agility, tenacity, hard work ethic, and stamina. He was primarily played in a defensive role in the centre, but had also been employed on the right flank, due to his high work rate, which was particularly useful when his team played on the counter-attack; indeed, his ability to make late attacking runs into the penalty area from deeper areas also occasionally saw him deployed in more advanced midfield roles. In spite of his slender build, Ramires was a strong tackler, and had been called a "box-to-box midfielder", due to his overall speed, energy, consistency, ability to read the game and high work rate, which enabled him to support his teams at both ends of the pitch by breaking down opposition plays and subsequently starting an attack after winning back possession. Although not as technically skilful as his compatriots such as Neymar and Willian, he nevertheless possessed good technique, which allowed him to produce moments of attacking brilliance, as exemplified by his Goal of the Year awards while at Chelsea.

Club

International

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ramires goal.