France, Brazil & Co. – Which nations have their players make the most UCL semi-finals?

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9 nations with 100+ qualifications 

©TM/IMAGO

The Champions League quarter-final first-legs did not disappoint. Declan Rice stunned the Emirates by scoring two sensational free-kicks – the first of his entire career – as Arsenal beat holders Real Madrid 3-0 in north London. Meanwhile, Lautaro Martínez’s audacious, Ricardo-Quaresma-like, strike with the outside of his boot helped Inter Milan win 2-1 at the home of Bayern Munich. PSG once again played with energy and flair, as they beat Aston Villa 3-1 at the Parc Des Princes, whilst Barcelona slammed Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in Catalonia.

Next week’s second legs will surely also be full of drama. Whilst it’s almost impossible to validate a Dortmund comeback against Barca, if anyone can turn around a 3-0 first-leg defeat, you’d think it could be the champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. Aston Villa will have to put in an almighty display at Villa Park to get past PSG, whilst Bayern will need a special performance in Milan. With Champions League semi-final qualification such a huge carrot, teams will be giving it everything. But down the years which nations have seen their players make the last four of the Champions League the most times since 1992/93? At Transfermarkt, we have calculated just that. 

Leading the way in first place is Spain, with as many as 419 semi-final qualifications from 189 players in the last three decades. The players who have made it the most are: Dani Carvajal, Thiago Alcántara, Sergio Ramos, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, and Iker Casillas, who have all qualified for nine semi-finals. In second place is Germany with 259 qualifications from 141 players. No German has made it to more than Toni Kroos’ nine semi-finals. Third position goes to France with 254 qualifications from 154 players, with Karim Benzema (11 semi-finals) the largest contributor.

Italy are fourth with 213 qualifications from 116 players. Brazil are the first non-European nation on the list in fifth with 197 qualifications from 101 players. England take sixth place with 180 qualifications from 95 players. Netherlands are seventh with 137 qualifications, and are followed in eighth by Argentina with 109 qualifications – Lionel Messi has contributed eight of those. Portugal take ninth place with 104 semi-finals, with Cristiano Ronaldo adding 11 of those. Croatia complete the top 10 with 42 semi-final qualifications.