Champions League: Neuer overtakes Messi and closes in on Ronaldo

At 40, the Bayern goalkeeper climbs onto the historic podium of the players with the most Champions League appearances

Europe Today at 01:00

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Champions League: Neuer overtakes Messi and closes in on Ronaldo

Back in goal during Bayern Munich’s victory away to Atlético Madrid (2-0), Manuel Neuer reached another historic milestone in the Champions League.

Manuel Neuer’s longevity at the highest level continues to enable him to rack up the appearances. Named in the starting lineup on Tuesday evening at the Metropolitano, the Bavarian captain made his 164th appearance in Europe’s premier competition. That appearance allowed him to overtake Lionel Messi and his former teammate Thomas Müller, who had both stopped at 163 matches.

A giant of European football 👏 Manuel Neuer moves third on the list of all-time #UCL appearance makers 🧤 https://t.co/wt0QUQPMKC
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 3, 2026

Neuer now third behind Casillas and Ronaldo

The German goalkeeper now occupies third place outright in the all-time Champions League appearances ranking, excluding qualifying rounds. Only Iker Casillas, second with 177 appearances, and Cristiano Ronaldo, the record holder with 183 matches, remain ahead of him. Neuer is therefore thirteen appearances behind the former Real Madrid goalkeeper and nineteen behind the Portuguese star.

This total is split between Schalke 04, for whom he played 22 matches in the competition, and Bayern Munich, with whom he now has 142 appearances. He has also become the German player with the most Champions League appearances, ahead of Müller.

Two Champions League titles to his name

Beyond this longevity record, Neuer has won the Champions League twice with Bayern. The goalkeeper first lifted the trophy in 2013 after winning the final against Borussia Dortmund, before repeating the feat in 2020 against Paris Saint-Germain.

The 2014 world champion will have another opportunity to add to his total this season. Bayern Munich will continue its European campaign on November 25 away to Lille.

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