Players with most appearances in Euro history: Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe top list

Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for the most appearances in Euro history. 

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in history to feature at six European Championships after he was included in Portugal’s starting XI against Czechia in their Euro 2024 opener at the Red Bull Arena Leipzig in Leipzig, Germany.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammate Pepe has represented Portugal in five editions of the UEFA European Championships in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024.

Apart from Ronaldo and Pepe, Croatia’s Luka Modric has also featured at five European Championships in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024.

The likes of Lothar Matthaus ((West Germany/Germany), Peter Schmeichel (Denmark), Alessandro Del Piero (Italy), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands), Lilian Thuram (France), Olof Mellberg (Sweden), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Petr Čech (Czech Republic), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden) and Andreas Isaksson (Sweden) have featured in four editions of Euros.

Know players with most appearances in Euro history.

Players with most appearances in Euro history

Cristiano Ronaldo | 26 appearances

Cristiano Ronaldo has made the most appearances in the UEFA European Football Championship history. The Portugal national football team talisman made his European Championship debut at UEFA Euro 2004 hosted in Portugal. Since then, Ronaldo has featured in every edition of the marquee tournament in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024. He has represented Portugal 26 times in Euro history.

Pepe | 20 appearances

Portugal’s star defender Pepe features second on the list of most appearances in Euro history. Regarded as one of the best centre-backs of his generation, Pepe made his European Championship debut at Euro 2008. Overall, Pepe has made 20 appearances in Euro history so far. 

Joao Moutinho | 19 appearances

Another Portuguese footballer Joao Moutinho is third on the list of most appearances in Euro history. Having represented Portugal at four European Championships in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020, Joao Moutinho made 19 appearances in the competition’s history.

Leonardo Bonucci, Bastian Schweinsteiger  | 18 appearances

Former Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci and ex-German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger share the four spot on the list of most appearances in Euro history. Both Leonardo Bonucci and Bastian Schweinsteiger made 18 appearances each in the UEFA European Football Championship history.

Photo credit: Alamy