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Someone who performs best when the stakes are highest - cup finals, title deciders, derbies. The term is either a compliment or a backhanded way to say someone goes missing in important matches. Players like Ramos and Drogba built reputations on delivering in finals. Others get labeled as players who only turn up against smaller teams.
Sergio Ramos epitomized the big game player - his late headers against Atlético Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals, plus countless decisive goals in El Clásico, made him the man you wanted on the pitch when everything was on the line.
Robbie
Jan 24, 2026
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