Gamers hailing from the USA within the UEFA Champions League are a comparatively trendy incidence. Solely for the reason that mid-Nineteen Nineties have People began making common appearances on this planet’s premier membership competitors. However which People are probably the most profitable within the UEFA Champions League?
Breaking into a giant European membership is a serious mark of success for an American participant. Moreover, being named to the group sheet for an elite event like UCL is a fair greater degree of accomplishment. So by the metric of whole appearances within the Champions League, these are probably the most profitable American gamers in historical past:
People in Champions League by appearances
| Participant | Apps | Targets | Assists | Golf equipment |
| Christian Pulisic | 51 | 7 | 7 | Dortmund, Chelsea, AC Milan |
| Weston McKennie | 24 | 4 | 1 | Schalke, Juventus |
| Sergiño Dest | 23 | 1 | 0 | Ajax, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSV |
| Jermaine Jones | 23 | 2 | 3 | Leverkusen, Schalke |
| DeMarcus Beasley | 22 | 4 | 2 | PSV, Rangers |
| Gio Reyna | 17 | 0 | 4 | Dortmund |
| Tyler Adams | 14 | 1 | 0 | RB Leipzig |
| Sacha Kljestan | 14 | 1 | 3 | Anderlecht |
| Tim Howard | 10 | 0 | 0 | Manchester United |
| Fabian Johnson | 10 | 2 | 2 | Mönchengladbach |
| Claudio Reyna | 8 | 0 | 0 | Rangers |
| Kenny Saief | 7 | 0 | 1 | Gent |
| Tony Sanneh | 6 | 0 | 1 | Hertha Berlin |
| Michael Parkhurst | 6 | 0 | 0 | Nordsjælland |
| Frankie Hejduk | 6 | 0 | 0 | Leverkusen |
| Jovan Kirovski | 5 | 1 | 0 | Dortmund |
| John O’Brien | 5 | 0 | 0 | Ajax |
| Ethan Horvath | 4 | 0 | 0 | Membership Brugge |
| Maurice Edu | 4 | 1 | 0 | Rangers |
| Chris Richards | 3 | 0 | 0 | Bayern Munich |
Latest standout gamers have rapidly emerged as probably the most prolific People on the European stage.
Main the pack is Christian Pulisic. The USMNT captain is much and away the chief in appearances, with greater than double the next-closest participant. His seven objectives and 7 assists are additionally high marks relating to offensive manufacturing within the competitors. And Pulisic has carried out it with three of the continent’s greatest golf equipment, in three completely different leagues – Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and now Milan. Pulisic doing it as a member of such large golf equipment solely provides to the impressiveness of the feat.
Up subsequent is Weston McKennie. At 24 appearances he stands alone in second, having carried out so with Schalke 04 and Juventus. In the meantime, Sergiño Dest has risen up the rankings briefly order, at present tied with Jermain Jones at 23 appearances. Dest’s stints with Ajax, Barça, Milan, and PSV mark probably the most UCL nods with completely different golf equipment.
The outdated guard
Jones and DeMarcus Beasley set the tempo for the era of USA gamers that held the fort through the first decade-plus of the twenty first century. Their careers at Leverkusen and Schalke, and PSV and Rangers respectively, helped set the tone that People may maintain their very own in Europe.
Nonetheless regardless of guys like Beas, Jones, Pulisic, and others displaying that People can kick it with the very best of the very best, general the UCL is traditionally comparatively naked when it comes to American presence.
Nonetheless, each children, Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna appear poised to proceed to characteristic within the competitors. However after these two, it’s pretty slim pickings – even together with a few of the extra notable names like Tim Howard and Gio’s father, Claudio.
Actually, locations 11-20 within the high 20 above have 54 whole UEFA Champions League appearances mixed. It’s possible that Christian Pulisic will equal that determine by himself when the 2023/24 Group Stage wraps up this December.
As the sport continues to enhance and develop within the US, we’ll undoubtedly export extra gamers to Europe. And a few will certainly make noise within the Champions League. However we’ve nonetheless received a approach to catch as much as the standard powers within the sport when it comes to producing really world-class gamers.
Picture: Imago
Loading…