As usually happens in most statistics in the world of football, especially those belonging to this century, Lionel Messi is a fixture in the top positions. Not only He is the most successful player of all time and the best assister in historyfor example, but above all, if it is not in the first positioning, He always has a guaranteed place in the top 3.
However, there is a statistic in which the world champion not in the top three, but the number still impresses. This Tuesday the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) announced the list of players who have played the most matches so far in the 21st century and La Pulga is in fourth place, with 1,047.
Messi appears in fourth place, but could soon be on the podium. The fact is that in the third there is Dani Alves, who these days is deprived of his freedom due to sexual violence, so it seems unlikely that the Brazilian will have a chance to return to the field. The former Barcelona and PSG player has 9 more games than Leo.
Who leads the list? Cristiano Ronaldo, with 1,204. A number that, in general, seems difficult to overcome, especially since the Portuguese continues to be active and active adding the matches with Al Nassr and the Portuguese national team. The podiumor it is completed by the current Fluminense goalkeeper, Fabio, with 1,202 games, who also played for Vasco da Gama and Cruzeiro. And in third place is the Brazilian Dani Alveswith 1,056, between Bahía, Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus, PSG, San Pablo and Pumas from UNAM. It should be noted that although Alves has not officially retired from football, at the age of 40 he is arrested and is going through a judicial process accused of sexual abuse.
Messi, 36 years old, He has played 778 games with Barcelona, 180 with the national team, 75 with Paris Saint Germain and, for now, 14 with Inter Miami. Of these matches, 584 were local tournaments, 104 were National Cups and 179 were International Cups.
Cristano Ronaldo is the one who has played the most so far in the 21st century, with 1,204, wearing the shirts of Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr and Portugal.
The 10 players with the most games so far in the 21st century:
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to play and score. Photo: AFP- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 1,204
- Fábio (Brazil)1,202
- Dani Alves (Brazil) 1,056
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) 1,047
- Luka Modric (Croatia) 1,010
- João Moutinho (Portugal)997
- Iker Casillas (Spain) 974
- Sergio Ramos (Spain) 974
- Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden) 962
- Andrés Iniesta (Spain) 949
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.