The first El Clasico of the 2024/25 season is set to take place this Saturday at a theater near you. With a total of 257 matches played between these two La Liga giants, you may be curious about which players have made the most appearances. Let's explore. 11. Luka Modric — 34 appearances At 39 years and 40 days old, Luka Modric is the oldest player in Real Madrid's history. The legendary midfielder is expected to feature in his 35th El Clasico tomorrow. Modric leads by example, inspiring younger teammates, and he continues to showcase his exceptional skills. "Watching Luka Modric play is always a joy," remarked Arsene Wenger, a respected coach. "Anyone who loves football has immense admiration for him." 10. Raul — 37 appearances Raul holds the record as the youngest goal scorer in El Clasico history, scoring his first goal in the fierce rivalry on September 30, 1996, at just 18 years old. He became one of Real Madrid's all-time great forwards, netting an impressive 323 goals. 10. Fernando Hierro — 37 appearances Fernando Hierro consistently brought high intensity to El Clasico matches. The Real Madrid center-back played 14 seasons (439 matches) for the club, contributing to five La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies, while also scoring 127 goals. 9. Andres Iniesta — 38 appearances Andres Iniesta participated in 38 El Clasico matches, with one of his most memorable performances occurring during Barcelona's 6-2 victory over Real Madrid on May 2, 2009, which helped secure La Liga for Barcelona in Pep Guardiola's first season. 8. Gerard Pique — 40 appearances Gerard Pique's presence on this list is expected. The Spanish defender played an impressive 666 matches for Barcelona over 15 seasons before retiring in November 2022, winning three Champions League and three La Liga titles. 7. Xavi — 42 appearances Xavi, Iniesta's partner, faced Real Madrid in 42 matches. The midfield genius was a key figure in the tika-taka style under Guardiola, helping the team achieve a treble in the 2008-09 season. He holds the record for most appearances for Barcelona, totaling 767. 6. Francisco Gento — 42 appearances Real Madrid legend Francisco Gento faced Barcelona 42 times, earning the nickname "Cantabrian Storm" among fans. He scored 178 goals over his career, winning 12 La Liga championships, six European Cups, and two Copa del Rey titles. 5. Manuel Sanchis — 42 appearances Former Real Madrid captain Manuel Sanchis also appeared in 42 El Clasico matches. The dedicated sweeper enjoyed a remarkable 22-season career with Los Blancos, securing six La Liga titles, two Champions League, and two UEFA Cups. 4. Karim Benzema — 44 appearances The 2022 Ballon d'Or winner, Karim Benzema, played 44 matches against Barcelona during his time at Real Madrid. The skilled forward scored 324 goals, making him the second all-time leading scorer for the club, behind Cristiano Ronaldo. 3. Lionel Messi — 45 appearances Lionel Messi made 45 appearances against his main rival Real Madrid. He scored his first hat-trick for Barcelona in El Clasico at the age of 19, and unsurprisingly, he holds the record for the most goals in this rivalry, with 26, surpassing Alfredo Di Stefano and Ronaldo, who each scored 18. 2. Sergio Ramos — 45 appearances Where Messi is, Ramos is sure to follow. The two faced off in each El Clasico, with Ramos making 45 appearances in this prominent rivalry. The legendary Madrid defender played in 32 consecutive Clasicos before moving to PSG in the summer of 2021. 1. Sergio Busquets — 48 appearances In March 2023, Sergio Busquets became the player with the most El Clasico appearances, surpassing both Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos. He concluded his career with 48 matches and holds the record for the most wins in these encounters, with a total of 22 victories, surpassing Paco Gento's record of 21.
0 Comments