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Full list revealed
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The Champions League round of 16 was a goal-fest. Across the eight ties, we saw a grand total of 68 goals. After much drama, it was Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Sporting and Arsenal who progressed to the quarter-finals. Making it to the last eight of Europe's premier club competition is no mean feat, but for some players it has become a familiar habit over the years. With this in mind, here at Transfermarkt, we have calculated the players to make the most Champions League quarter-finals since the reformat in the 1992/93 season.
Players to make it to most Champions League quarter-finals
Leading the way is Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The German is actually currently out injured, so missed his team's round of 16 triumph against Atalanta, but has still now made the Champions League quarter-finals on an incredible 16 occasions: twice with Schalke and 14 times with Bayern. In second-placed, having now made this season's quarter-finals with Real Madrid (despite also being injured) is defender David Alaba; the Austrian has now made the last eight as many as 15 times.
There are then two players that have reached the Champions League quarter-finals 14 times. Players that are tied are ranked by the highest number of total appearances in the competition, but on this occasion both stars are also level on that front. The legendary Lionel Messi shares third with German playmaker Thomas Müller. In fifth position is former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, who made it to the last eight 13 times and played 145 games in the Champions League. Also on 13 quarter-finals and in sixth and seventh respectively are Andrés Iniesta (130 apps) and Gerard Piqué (128 apps).
There are then eight players who have made 12 Champions League quarter-finals down the years, including the competition's all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, and Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who climbed the list having progressed to that stage with Barcelona this term. Former Manchester United duo Paul Scholes and Wes Brown are the only Englishman in the top 15.
