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Who are the most capped players in the Champions League?
Being a player that is capable of earning one
Champions League cap is an amazing feat, being able to break the 100 mark is something only the best of the best are able to achieve.
Of the hundreds, if not thousands, of players who have played in the Champions League, just 49 have managed to earn 100 or more caps.
These are the ten players who have made the most appearances in the Champions League.
10. Gianluigi Buffon – 132 appearances
You know that when a football lists starts with Gianluigi Buffon that it is going to be epic. Having started his Champions League career with Parma in 1997, it didn’t take long for the big teams to take notice of the 19 year-old goalkeeper that was already stamping his authority on the game.
He was quickly snapped up by Juventus where he would go on to have an incredible Champions League career. Unfortunately for the Italian, he was never part of Juventus team that lifted the Champions League trophy.
9. Andres Iniesta – 132 appearances
Just like his partner-in-crime, Xavi, Iniesta spent his entire Champions League career at Barcelona, winning four titles along the way.
The World Cup winning Spaniard first stepped onto the park for the Catalans in the 2002/03 season and played for 15 incredible seasons before calling time on his career in 2017/18.
8. Karim Benzema – 133 appearances
To understand just how good Karim Benzema is, you have to look at his goal rate in the Champions League. The Real Madrid star managed to equal Raul’s UCL tally in 11 fewer games, and he doesn’t look like he’s anywhere close to stopping.
The Frenchman made his debut at the competition for Lyon before being snapped up by Los Blancos in the 2009/10 season. His addition to the team had a significant impact and he has since won four titles with the side.
7. Paolo Maldini – 139 appearances
Paolo Maldini might be one of the greatest players to come out of Italy.
Playing for AC Milan, the talismanic defender had eyes only for one club and remained at the Rossoneri until his retirement in 2009. In that time, he was part of the side that managed to win three Champions League titles, including lifting the trophy in 2006/07 at the age of 39.
6. Raul – 144 appearances
If it hadn’t been for a certain Portuguese superstar, Raul might just have gone down as the greatest number 7 to play for the club. Unfortunately for him he was eclipsed by Cristiano Ronaldo, but that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t a massive player for Los Blancos in his day.
Having played 144 Champions League matches, Raul led Galacticos to three European Cup titles and found the back of the net 71 times (66 times for Real Madrid).
5. Ryan Giggs – 151 appearances
The name Ryan Giggs is synonymous with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Class of ‘92 and the Man United side that was so unstoppable during the 90s and early 2000s.
Rightfully seen as one of United’s best players, Giggs was a stalwart for the club and managed to feature no less than 153 times in the Champions League.
Having first played for the Red Devils in 1993, ‘the Welsh Wizard’ proved time and time again that he was one of the best players to step onto the field – right up until the day he retired.
4. Lionel Messi – 152 appearances
Alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is arguably the most recognisable name in European football, if not world football.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner made his debut for Barcelona at just 17 years old, and little did we know then that we were being introduced to one of the most spectacular players the game will ever see.
Now playing for PSG, the Little Maestro helped the Catalans secure four trophies and is now second only to Ronaldo in terms of goals scored, penalties scored, and assists.
3. Xavi Hernández – 157 appearances
Xavi is regarded as one of Barcelona’s greatest playmakers. He stepped onto the Champions League field 157 times in total, 151 of which were for the Catalans, making him the player with the most appearances for a single club in the competition.
2. Iker Casillas – 181 appearances
Can you remember what you were doing when you were 18 years old?
Legendary Spanish goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, was making his Champions League debut for Real Madrid – making him the youngest goalkeeper to ever play in the competition at the time.
“San Iker” would go on to play in 181 matches in the competition, the vast majority of which was for Los Blancos. Before hopping over to Porto, Casillas led Real Madrid to three Champions League titles.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 183 appearances
Ronaldo seems to be a permanent fixture in the Champions League. After making his debut way back in 2002, “Mr Champions League” has gone on to amass more than 180 appearances for Sporting, Man United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
After re-joining Manchester United earlier this year, it doesn’t look like he’s ready to hang up his boots any time soon either. Having appeared in six Champions League finals, four of which he won, Ronaldo has also gone on to score the most goals (138), score the most penalties (19), and set up the most number of goals (42).
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