Most games in 2022: van Dijk just ahead of Silva & Fernández - 37-year-old Modric in top 5

Virgil van Dijk is the football player from Europe’s strongest leagues who played the most competitive games in 2022. The 31-year-old centre-back made 64 appearances for Liverpool and the Netherlands. In a joint second place, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and Benfica’s Chelsea target Enzo Fernández follow with 63 games each. The 70-game mark was only broken once in Brazil.

The fact that players from the Premier League or La Liga traditionally play more games than players from smaller leagues is due to these leagues having 38 match days and, in some cases, more appearances in cup competitions are possible. A total of 16 first division players cracked the 60-game mark in 2022. Among them are veteran Luka Modric (62 games), who despite his 37 years is indispensable for Real Madrid and Croatia, as well as his compatriots Ivan Perisic (60 games) and Mateo Kovacic (60 games).

A special player in the ranking is James Tavernier, who made 60 appearances for Rangers. The goal-scoring full-back has never played for England, but made many appearances on his way to the Europa League final, making him the player with the most games at club level in Europe. Among English players, only Tottenham striker Harry Kane (62 games) and West Ham’s Declan Rice (61 games) rank ahead of Tavernier.

World Cup winners: Fernández & Álvarez with appearances on two continents

World Cup winners Fernández and Julián Álvarez were under contract on different continents during 2022 and also played important roles in Qatar. Both moved to Europe in the summer after 28 and 26 appearances for River Plate, respectively, and saw their market values skyrocket. Fernández played 63 games for River, Benfica and Argentina, while Álvarez took his tally to 61 matches as Man City’s back-up striker.

The player with the most appearances worldwide can be found in Brazil, where national cup competitions have enabled Wellington Rato to make 70 appearances for São Paulo. The winger missed just two of 38 games in the top division, which ran from April to November. He made eight appearances in the Copa do Brasil, where his team was eliminated in the quarterfinals, eleven in the Copa Sudamericana, where he reached the semi-finals, and 15 in his side’s Campeonato Goiano title run. In total, there are ten footballers playing in Brazil who have topped van Dijk’s 64 appearances.