Born in Uruguay, Ramos emigrated to the United States and New Jersey at the age of 11. He went to college at NC State and got his first cap for the US National Team on January 10, 1988 against Guatemala, and also played in the 1988 Summer Olympics. After playing for the US in the 1990 World Cup, he was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1990.
On January 3, 1995 Ramos became the first player signed with MLS, allocated to the future New York/New Jersey franchise, which became the MetroStars. For that year, the league loaned him out to Mexican club Tigres. On September 7, 1997, Ramos scored one of the most important goals in US history, against Costa Rica in a 1-0 World Cup qualifier win. In 1998, he played in his third World Cup, becoming one of the first three US players (Eric Wynalda, Marcelo Balboa) to do so.
Ramos retired from soccer after seven years with the MetroStars (1996-2002) as the last original member of the team. Ramos was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame on the first ballot, in 2005.
