Messi & Xavi, Ronaldo & Marcelo – Players with most Champions League minutes together

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Since 2000 

©TM/IMAGO

The Champions League is the biggest and most prestigious tournament in club football that aspiring players dream of competing in. From the history of the competition to the iconic pre-game anthem, the Champions League is the pinnacle of European football. A new league phase format has been introduced for the 2024/25 campaign with more games than ever. 

Real Madrid are aiming to regain their crown after beating Borussia Dortmund at Wembley last season. The Spanish giants are the most successful club in the competition, winning it 15 times and Carlo Ancelotti’s men are amongst the favourites to reach the final in Munich. Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal and Nacho moved level with former Real Madrid star Paco Gento as the most decorated players with six titles after their success last season. The most iconic players in history have dazzled in the European Cup but which two stars have played the most minutes together in the Champions League since 2000? Let’s find out – we’ve excluded goalkeepers from the list!

Barcelona and Real Madrid dominate the list with only two duos in the top 20 not representing the biggest two clubs in Spain. Barcelona account for seven of the top ten entries with Lionel Messi featuring five times, including top spot. The Argentinian legend and Sergio Busquets played more minutes together in the Champions League (8,261) than any other two players. Messi lifted the famous trophy four times across his illustrious career, with Busquets winning it three times and the duo are still playing together in the MLS for Inter Miami. 

 Former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué occupies second and third spot – 8,121 minutes with Messi and 7,917 with Busquets. The only pair of players in the top ten list that didn’t represent the two Spanish giants are John Terry and Frank Lampard in fourth. The Chelsea legends played 7,304 minutes together in the Champions League and they ensured the Stamford Bridge side were the first London club to win the competition in 2012. Cristiano Ronaldo is the top goalscorer in Champions League history and he played 7,043 alongside Sergio Ramos in the competition which ranks 5th.