The UEFA Champions League is the stage where the world’s finest footballers showcase their skills and ability. To play at this level, you need to be among the world’s finest. To play at this level for many years, you need to be one of the greatest of all-time.
Here are the ten players with the most appearances in the world’s most prestigious club competition.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has 119 Champions League appearances and 48 goals.
Ajax, Real Madrid, AC Milan | 125 appearances and 11 goals
Clarence Seedorf is one of the most successful players in the history of this competition. He’s won four different titles with three different clubs: Ajax 1994-95, Real Madrid 1997-98, and Milan 2002-03, 2006-07.
Roberto Carlos has 120 appearances and 14 goals.
Real Madrid, PSG | 129 appearances and 15 goals
Perhaps the greatest defender of his generation, Ramos lifted the trophy four times with Real Madrid.
Andres Iniesta has 122 appearances and 11 goals
Barcelona | 130 appearances and 11 goals
A four-time winner of the UEFA Champions League, Andres Iniesta is one of the most decorated footballers of all-time. He’s also scored two goals in Champions League semifinals, both coming against Chelsea (2008-09 and 2011-12).
Paul Scholes has 124 appearances and 24 goals.
Real Madrid, Lyon | 130 appearances and 71 goals
A four-time winner with Real Madrid, Benzema is keeping pace with Ronaldo and Messi. That's how good he is.
Clarence Seedorf has 125 appearances and 11 goals.
Manchester United | 141 appearances and 28 goals
Ryan Giggs made nearly 1,000 appearances for Manchester United during his career and an amazing 141 of those came in the Champions League. He twice won the tournament with the club, and he scored in 16 different UEFA Champions League seasons.
Cristiano Ronaldo has 140 appearances and 105 goals
Real Madrid, Schalke 04 | 142 appearances and 71 goals
One of the most prolific strikers of all-time, Raul led Real to three UCL titles (1997-98, 1999-00 and 2001-02). He would later join Schalke 04 in Germany and become an instant fan favorite.
Ryan Giggs has 141 appearances and 28 goals.
Barcelona, PSG | 149 appearances and 120 goals
A four-time winner of the tournament with Barcelona, Messi is aiming to equal Ronaldo's haul of five with PSG.
Raul made 142 appearances and scored 71 goals.
Barcelona | 151 appearances and 11 goals
Xavi is one of the finest midfielders the world has ever seen. His passing ability defined a period of Barcelona dominance that encapsulated their style and ability on the ball. He won four titles in the competition.
Xavi made 151 appearances and scored 11 goals
Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus | 177 appearances and 135 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo is synonymous with this competition as its all-time leading scorer and provider. He’s won the contest five times, he’s the only player to score in three different finals and he’s scored the most hat-tricks in the competition with eight.
Iker Casillas has made 164 Champions League appearances.
Real Madrid, Porto | 177 appearances
Now retired, Iker Casillas will always be remembered as one of the all-time greats at Real Madrid. He won the tournament three times with the Spanish giants, and the 36-year-old continued to perform at a very high level in goal for Porto.
