Behind a five-time Champions League winner Karim Benzema and Thierry Henry, who ended up lifting the big-eared cup with Barça in 2009, Claude Makélélé is the third French player with the most appearances in the European Cup. “KB9” is slightly ahead of “Titi” Henry with 157 matches against 140, while “Maké” is on the third step of the podium with 132 European matches, he who was the world reference as a recovery midfielder at Real Madrid with Zinédine Zidane (2000-2003) then at Chelsea under José Mourinho in particular (2003-2008).
Zinédine Zidane and Claude Makelele teammates at Real Madrid.
In this ranking, Makélélé, finalist of the 2006 World Cup with the Blues (for 71 selections from 1995 to 2008), is tied with Mathieu Valbuena, who also has 132 European Cup matches to his credit. But the native of Kinshasa (DR Congo) played 93 in the Champions League (for a small goal) and “Petit Vélo” had “only” 51 LDC matches (for 4 goals).
Griezmann behind Makélélé and Valbuena
Antoine Griezmann stops at 131 European evenings. He could have joined Makélélé and Valbuena but Atlético was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday evening by Arsenal (1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, after a 1-1 draw in the first leg). Two weeks after losing the final of the Copa del Rey against Real Sociedad, his training club, on penalties (2-2, tab: 3-4), “Grizi” leaves the C1 with his head down, two months before starting his adventure in MLS, at 35, with Orlando City.
“Grizi” has very good stats in C1 with 44 goals and 16 assists in 120 matches in the most beautiful continental competition. The top scorer in Atlético history also has a record of 6 goals and 4 assists in 8 Europa League matches during the Colchoneros’ coronation against OM (3-0) in 2018.
