Throughout the history there has been 169 red cards in total in all World Cups since 1930. If we do some quick math that’s approximately 7,6 red cards per World Cup, with 20 of them being dealt out at the 1998 World Cup in France, a classic World Cup if you look from a defender’s point of view.
5. Leonardo – World Cup 1994 against United States
You don’t usually connect Brazil with red cards. But in 1994 Leonardo lost his head a bit and elbowed Ramos from the United States in the face. It was the round of 16 and in the last couple of minutes of the first half there was an intense battle for the ball. Ramos tried to nutmeg Leonardo, which he obviously was to smart to avoid. But Ramos pulled his shirt a bit too much which caused Leonardo in sticking him an elbow and a ticket to the hospital with a skull fracture…ouch.