Sergio Ramos has issued a last-gasp plea to Spain boss Luis Enrique to include him in the national squad for the first time in 18 months for the World Cup in Qatar.
The 36-year-old is La Roja’s most capped player of all time with 180 appearances for the Spain senior team, but none have come since early 2021 due to continued fitness setbacks. Ramos has not featured for Spain since leaving Real Madrid to join Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent last summer.
The talismanic central defender endured a difficult 12 months of fitness problems, coinciding with dropping out of the Spanish squad and struggling for regular football. However, he has enjoyed a resurgence of form and fortune in the French capital this campaign.
The Spaniard featured in Saturday’s 4-3 Ligue 1 victory over Troyes to make it 30 matches for Les Parisiens without tasting defeat, breaking the long-standing record held by Rai, the club's Brazilian legend, who went 29 games without losing.
The charismatic central defender – who is aiming to break back into the Spain squad ahead of next month’s World Cup – also became the first club player not to lose in his first 22 Ligue 1 games for PSG, beating the record previously held by Argentine Juan Pablo Sorin.
The veteran defender was excluded from the Spain squad for Euro 2020 last year, following an injury-plagued final season at Real Madrid. His omission marked the first major tournament since Euro 2004 where he was not called for the national team, ending a run of featuring in ten consecutive tournaments.
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Ramos has said in an interview this week, as highlighted by Marca : "Everyone knows what playing for Spain means to me. I feel good, I'm available, but it's a decision that doesn't depend on me, it depends on the coach (Luis Enrique).
"I respect him a lot. I can only continue playing and waiting. I hope to have the opportunity to participate in a new World Cup."
Spain are short on quality and leadership in the heart of their defence. Manchester City ’s Aymeric Laporte is the outstanding player in the position, but doubts have been expressed over Eric Garcia of Barcelona and Villarreal’s Pau Torres – both of whom have struggled for form recently but have continually been afforded opportunities at international level by Luis Enrique.
Ramos will celebrate his 37th birthday in March and many had feared his time at the top level could not be revived due to multiple injury setbacks over the past two seasons. However, this season has seen him steer clear of fitness issues and become an instrumental figure for PSG – and he is hopeful for Spain too.
