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Ronaldo Sets the Standard with Record 197 UEFA Club Appearances

Few names in European football command the same reverence as Cristiano Ronaldo. Over nearly two decades on the continent’s grandest stages, the Portuguese superstar has built a résumé that sets him apart and the numbers underline it.

Ronaldo stands alone at the summit of UEFA club competition appearances, featuring in 197 matches across tournaments, according to official UEFA records.

That remarkable figure places him ahead of legendary goalkeeper Pepe Reina and former Iker Casillas, two stalwarts of European nights.

The five-time Ballon d’Or recipient collected his appearances while representing Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Along the way, he lifted five UEFA Champions League trophies four with Madrid and one with United cementing his reputation as one of the competition’s defining figures.

His longevity, consistency, and ability to perform at the highest level season after season have ensured his dominance in the all-time standings.

Players with the Most UEFA Club Competition Appearances

Cristiano Ronaldo (Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus) – 197
Pepe Reina (Barcelona, Villarreal, Liverpool, Napoli, AC Milan, Lazio) – 192
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Porto) – 188
Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) – 174
Luka Modrić (Dinamo Zagreb, Tottenham, Real Madrid) – 173
Xavi Hernández (Barcelona) – 173
João Moutinho (Sporting CP, Porto, Monaco, Wolves, Braga) – 170
Gianluigi Buffon (Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain) – 167
Robert Lewandowski (Lech Poznań, Dortmund, Bayern, Barcelona) – 167
Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain) – 167
Thomas Müller (Bayern) – 167
Manuel Neuer (Schalke, Bayern) – 166
Toni Kroos (Bayern, Real Madrid) – 164
Clarence Seedorf (Ajax, Real Madrid, Inter, AC Milan) – 163
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Pyunik, Metalurh Donetsk, Shakhtar Donetsk, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, Arsenal, Roma, Inter) – 162
Raúl González (Real Madrid, Schalke) – 161
Edin Džeko (Željezničar, Teplice, Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Roma, Inter, Fenerbahçe, Fiorentina) – 160
Javier Zanetti (Inter) – 160
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) – 159
Karim Benzema (Lyon, Real Madrid) – 157

From iconic defenders and midfield maestros to prolific forwards and legendary goalkeepers, the list reads like a roll call of European football royalty. Yet at the very top remains Ronaldo, a figure whose durability and relentless pursuit of excellence have etched his name permanently into UEFA history.