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Real Madrid dominate
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The Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in the world and it’s impossible to argue otherwise. Every elite footballer begins the season dreaming of lifting the famous trophy to cement themselves in their club’s history books. For years, Champions League glory proved elusive for PSG but the French giants won the trophy for the first time last season.
All the biggest clubs in Europe will battle for the coveted trophy this campaign with Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid the favourites. Madrid are the most decorated club in the competition’s history with 15 titles and five Los Blancos stars have lifted it a record six times; Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos, Nacho, Daniel Carvajal and Paco Gento. All the greatest footballers have graced the Champions League but which stars have played the most minutes in the competition? Let’s find out.
Who has played the most Champions League minutes?
Using Transfermarkt’s data, we’ve excluded goalkeepers to compile a list of the players with the most Champions League minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo ranks top. The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend has played 15,758 minutes in the Champions League and he’s also the record goalscorer with 140 goals in 183 games. As the graphic below illustrates, Lionel Messi takes second place with 13,577 minutes.
Interestingly, the Argentinian is the only non-European player in the top list with 12,332 of his minutes in the Champions League arriving with Barcelona. Three former Real Madrid players complete the top five in Sergio Ramos, Raúl and Kroos. Robert Lewandowski is the only player in the top ten still playing in the competition and he could realistically move into the top five this season. If goalkeepers were included in the list then Iker Casillas would be top with Manuel Neuer in third and you can check the top 150 players below!
[Link Rubrik="Top 150 players" Text="With most Champions League minutes' URL="https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/rekordspieler/pokalwettbewerb/CL#google_vignette"]
