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The 25 Players With The Most Appearances Since 2000

The 25 Players With The Most Appearances Since 2000

Only two players have reached over 1000 appearances in the past 20 years, and both of them played together at one point.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

In the past 20 years, since the start of the new millenium, there's been an array of incredible footballers but which of them have made the most appearances?

This week Gianluigi Buffon signed a new contract at Juventus, which means the Italian goalkeeper will be playing until he's 44-years-old.

The World Cup winner, who has won pretty much everything in the game apart from the Champions League, has been playing first team football since 1995, when he made his debut for Parma.

Buffon is still going strong, which is unlike a large majority of the list of players to have made most appearances for club and country this millenium, via Transfermarkt, and it's some achievement, but he's not even the goalkeeper with the most appearances.

25. John Arne Riise - 796 games

24. Cesc Fabregas - 800 games

23. Joao Moutinho - 803 games

21. Xabi Alonso - 805 games

=. Samuel Eto'o - 805 games

20. Sergei Ignashevich - 809 games

19. John Terry - 802 games

18. Gareth Barry - 822 games

17. Fernando Torres -824 games

16. Pepe Reina - 830 games

15. Steven Gerrard - 832 games

14. Dirk Kuyt - 840 games

13. Andres Iniesta - 849 games

Iniesta made over 650 appearances for Barcelona. Image: PA Images
Iniesta made over 650 appearances for Barcelona. Image: PA Images

12. Sergio Ramos - 858 games

11. Lionel Messi - 860 games

10. Wayne Rooney - 865 games

9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 867 games

7. Dani Alves - 869 games

Alves is still playing for Sao Paulo. Image: PA Images
Alves is still playing for Sao Paulo. Image: PA Images

=. Timmy Simons - 869 games

6. Frank Lampard - 874 games

5. Petr Cech - 879 games

4. Gianluigi Buffon - 922 games

3. Xavi - 950 games

2. Cristiano Ronaldo - 1003 games

1. Iker Casillas - 1039 games

It's no surprise to see Iker Casillas top of the pile considering the former Real Madrid goalkeeper broke records as the youngest player in the Champions League when he first appeared in September 1999.

After that the Spanish keeper became Los Blancos' first choice keeper early this century and played up until two seasons ago, after suffering a heart attack, winning everything in the competition.

It shows Cristiano Ronaldo's incredible fitness that at just 35, and having not made his senior debut until 2002, he is second on the list.

He'll overtake former teammate Casillas next season and by the time he's finished he could be an incredible distance from the former World Cup winning captain.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Frank Lampard, Football News, Serie A, Ligue 1, Lionel Messi, International Football, Premier League, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo, La Liga, Bundesliga

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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@Sidler28