Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane are going into their fifth season as Real Madrid's centre-back pairing - and they look as stronger than ever.
They have been one of the pillars of Real Madrid's glory era, landing four Champions League titles in a five-year period between 2014 and 2018,
What's extraordinary, particularly in today's market, is that they cost Los Blancos just 40 million euros between them.
Ramos arrived from Sevilla in 2005 for 30 million euros, with Varane joining from Lens for just 10 million euros as an 18-year-old in 2011.
They have since accumulated hundreds of games together, building one of the most signature defensive partnerships the game has ever seen.
They have also won a World Cup each, with Varane currently standing on 66 caps for France, and Ramos a scarcely credible 173 for Spain.
Even though the years are ticking by, their abilities don't seem to be on the wane at all, and they look set to both play a key role in another push for silverware in the 2020/21 campaign.
It was all very different when Varane arrived at the club.
Portuguese enforcer Pepe had been Ramos' partner at that time, and the French youngster was also in competition with the likes of Ricardo Carvalho for a defensive spot.
It meant there were times when Varane considered his future away from Madrid, but from the moment Zinedine Zidane became coach at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Varane felt wanted and became an important figure.
And since he and Ramos begun playing regularly together in 2015, they have been inseparable.
Real Madrid have signed players to cover the position - including most recently Brazilian Eder Militao from Porto for a fee of 50 million euros - but no one has been able to unseat the duo.
It's been quite the success story.
Bløcbøy
506
but if you got Ramos-Varane you are safe 🤗🤗
maxm70
380
The best CB duo ever . However I will have to say Ramos and Pepe do was the dirtiest.
Holuwhapamilerin
222
meanwhile there is one 80M fridge in ENGLAND
FemiBalogun
198
what I discovered about it is playing together with Ramos makes most of his partners look good, pepe,pique,varane,cavalho,I even watched a match when militao played along with Ramos and he(militao)played like a genius, try to watch Ramos positioning,leadership ability, clearances and commitment in every matches,its made many of his partners look comfortable,Madrid have played some matches with out Ramos pairing other defenders together like varane-militao,,varane- pepe,,varane - cavalho,,varane-nacho,,pepe-cavalho,,all didn't works out until Madrid put Ramos the chemistry in defence line,nowadays some young defenders played comfortably with Ramos for Spain national team.
Holuwhapamilerin
184
LIVERPOOL and MANCHESTER UNITED will have not concede 6+ goals in the same day if they had have RAMOS and VARANE
RoyAbhinandan
155
If barca had the same defensive duo!!!🥺 To me Ramos-Rafa is the best defensive duo from 2015-2020. Barca have a good attack ,if just the defence...........😔
Tekadiksy
23
meanwhile if 2020 was a defender