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Since the inaugural rebranded Champions League competition in 1992, a number of players from various clubs have featured in Europe's elite club competition. A few players have managed to win the tournament a number of times and a few players hold records that serve as trophies.
However, only a handful of top professionals have consistently sustained themselves at the top of European football. As the active appearance holders keep adding to their tally of games in the Champions League, we take a look at five retired players who made the most number of appearances in Europe.
All the players mentioned below are in the all-time top 15 players with the most appearances in Europe's elite club competition.
#5 Roberto Carlos - 120 appearances
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Former explosive Brazilian and Real Madrid left back, Roberto Carlos is fifth on the retired list and tenth on the all-time list of highest appearance makers with 120 Champions League appearances.
Carlos began his professional career in Brazil in 1991 and is widely regarded as the greatest left back of his generation. With over 350 club appearances over a decade at Real Madrid, Carlos has won numerous accolades and trophies. In 2007, the Brazilian joined Fenerbache in Turkey and played 13 times in the Champions League for the Turkish club.
The multiple-time La Liga winner is also a three-time Champions League winner in '98, 00 and 02 and has won everything there is to win in club football. Carlos retired at the age of 39 and went into management, most recently taking charge of ISL outfit Delhi Dynamos.
#4 Paul Scholes - 124 appearances
Former English and Manchester United midfielder genius, Paul Scholes is fourth on the retired list and eighth on the all-time list of highest appearance makers with 124 Champions League appearances.
Scholes began his professional career at United in 1993 and is widely regarded as the greatest English midfielder of his generation. With over 500 club appearances over a long 20-year career with the same club, Scholes has won numerous accolades and trophies.
The multiple-time Premier League winner is also a two-time Champions League winner in '99 and '08 and has won everything there is to win in club football. The Englishman made 66 appearances for his country between '97 and '04 and surprisingly called time on his international career at the age of 28.
#3 Clarence Seedorf - 125 appearances
Surinamese-born, Dutch midfielder, Clarence Seedorf is a three-time Champions League winner, once with Real Madrid and twice with AC Milan. Widely considered to be one of the greatest central midfielders of all-time, Seedorf began his career at Ajax in 1992.
After three years in Holland, the player preferred a move to Italian side Sampdoria although it lasted only a season before Real Madrid signed the player in 1996. A move back to Italy materialised in 2000, with Inter Milan purchasing the player.
However, Seedorf would cause a huge uproar in Milan as he switched Inter for AC Milan in 2002. The Dutchman played for 10 years at the club and moved to Brazilian side Botafogo for two years after which he called time on his career.
Seedorf went into management immediately and took charge of AC Milan in 2014. He was sacked in a few months due to poor performances. With 125 Champions League appearances to his name, Seedorf is 3rd on the list and seventh on the all-time list for players with the most number of appearances in the competition.
#2 Ryan Giggs - 141 appearances
Former Manchester United and Welsh captain, Ryan Giggs is second on the retired list and fifth on the all-time list of highest appearance makers in Champions League history with 141 appearances for United.
The Welsh winger began his career for United in 1990 and went on to play for a staggering 24 years with the same club, winning numerous honours and accolades. A tricky, rapid quick winger during his time, Giggs is a two-time Champions League winner in 1999 and 2008.
Although Giggs' international career wasn't as impressive as his club exploits, he still made 64 appearances for Wales during his career. Working and learning his trade to become a professional manager, Giggs is currently on the hunt for a job while he continues to do media work for various channels in the meantime.
One of the greats of the Premier League era, Ryan Giggs has won everything there is to win in club football and will go down in history as one of the best wingers of all-time.
#1 Raúl González - 142 appearances
Former Real Madrid and Spanish captain, Raul Gonzalez is one of the greatest Spanish goal scorers to have graced the game With over 500 appearances for Real Madrid during his 15-year professional career, he is the fifth highest goal scorer in the Spanish top-flight.
In 2010, Raul moved to Germany and joined Schalke and spent two years at the club before moving to Al Saad in Qatar for two years. The New York Cosmos signed the former Spanish striker in 2015 for a year after which the player decided to call time on his 20-year long career.
With 142 Champions League appearances for Madrid and Schalke, Raul is first on the list of highest appearances makers for retired players and is fourth all-time on the list of highest Champions League appearances.
The Spaniard is also third on the list of all-time top scorers with 71 goals in the Champions League behind only Messi and Ronaldo.
