Top player appearances: 93 games
This week, many of Africa’s top footballers will return to the Champions League after their performances in AFCON. The recent tournament concluded in an exhilarating fashion, with a remarkable finale between Morocco and Senegal. Following a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco during the eighth minute of stoppage time, Senegal’s manager Pape Thiaw instructed his players to leave the field in protest.
Despite this, Brahim Díaz missed the penalty, allowing Senegal to score a decisive goal in extra time and claim the title. African players have a storied legacy in the Champions League, beginning with Liverpool’s Bruce Grobbelaar, who became the first African player to win the trophy in 1994. Samuel Eto’o holds the record for the most Champions League titles among African players, with three (two with Barcelona and one with Inter Milan). Who, however, holds the record for the most appearances in this prestigious tournament? Let’s take a closer look!
Mohamed Salah now holds the record for the most Champions League appearances by an African player, surpassing Didier Drogba this season. The 33-year-old has played in 93 matches, with 78 for Liverpool, 7 for Roma, 6 for Basel, and 2 for Chelsea. Drogba, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, made 92 appearances.
The graphic above illustrates that Eto’o ranks third in appearances, having played 78 times for five different clubs. Rounding out the top five are Ghanaian players Michael Essien and Samuel Kuffour, with PSG’s Achraf Hakimi poised to surpass Kuffour this season. Notably, Salah could become the first African player to reach 100 Champions League appearances if Liverpool progresses far in the tournament this year.
