Football is a contact sport, and because of its inherently physical nature, the likelihood of a player receiving a booking before a match concludes is consistently quite high.
While some players are well-known for steering clear of cautions, others have earned a reputation for frequently ending up in the referee's book.
There are various reasons why footballers can be booked, such as making a deliberate foul, diving, or even arguing with the referee.
Therefore, it is challenging for players to participate in multiple games without receiving a booking. It is even more challenging for a player to conclude their career without ever being shown a red card.
This article introduces 16 exceptional football players who managed to go their whole careers without ever being issued a red card.
1. Stanley Mathews
He holds the record for being the oldest player to compete in England's top football league, at the age of 50 years and 5 days, and is also the oldest player to have represented England, at 42 years and 104 days.
Stanley Matthews earned the distinction of winning the first-ever Ballon d'Or award in 1956.
Remarkably, throughout his 33-year career, he was never booked or sent off, as he seldom tackled opponents and always refrained from responding to the numerous physical challenges he faced.
2. Michel Platini
Michel Platini, a former UEFA President, is regarded as one of the finest footballers in French history.
Platini played a total of 652 matches for both club and country; yet, he was never given a single red card in any of those games, even as a midfielder!
3. Gary Lineker
He was the leading goal scorer at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, even though England was knocked out in the quarterfinals. Remarkably, Lineker never received a red card throughout his career; he didn't even get a yellow card! This achievement came while he played in over 500 matches for both his club and the national team.
4. Raul
The iconic forward, Raul, spent 16 years at Real Madrid from 1994 to 2010, during which he made 741 appearances in various competitions.
Throughout his remarkable career, Raul participated in a total of 1,044 matches for both club and country, yet remarkably, he was never shown a single red card.
Nonetheless, he did accumulate 46 yellow cards over the course of his career.
5. Andreas Iniesta
Andreas Iniesta is among the few football players in history who has never been shown a red card, even though he played as a box-to-box midfielder.
6. Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is among the few players in history who have never been shown a red card throughout his career.
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