Barring any disaster, Sergio Ramos will start against Barcelona on Wednesday night, making him the player with the most Clasico appearances in history — surpassing Xavi Hernandez, Manuel Sanchis, and Paco Gento. The three aforementioned players all have 42 Clasico appearances. Ramos will moved ahead 43 (and counting).

Ramos’s longevity as an iron man is remarkable. He’s played in all Clasicos since joining Real Madrid from Sevilla since 2005. He’s scored four times in this matchup — all from headers.

No matter how you spin it, Ramos’s legacy is incredible. It’s not easy for a player to play at such a high level for so long, and be so indispensable to a side’s success. Few could foresee Ramos surpassing legends like Fernando Hierro and Manuel Sanchis when he first signed as a right-back. Given his struggles early on when deployed as a center back, his evolution at that position is even more impressive.