Manuel Neuer has become the German record holder for most UEFA Champions League appearances after playing his 164th match in a 2-0 victory over Atlético Madrid on Tuesday night. The 40-year-old goalkeeper surpassed the 163 appearances held by former Bayern Munich player Thomas Müller and Lionel Messi to claim the domestic record.
Neuer climbs the all-time European rankings
The victory at the Estadio Metropolitano also moved Neuer into sole possession of third place on the all-time list of Champions League appearances.
𝗕𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗫𝗜 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘁𝗹é𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗼 Neuer © – Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanišić – Kimmich, Bischof – Olise, Karl, Davies – Kane #MiaSanMia 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/q7SZBRr6Jy
The current standings for the most Champions League matches played are as follows:
| Player | Appearances |
|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 183 |
| Iker Casillas | 177 |
| Manuel Neuer | 164 |
While Neuer has also played in the competition for Schalke 04, the majority of his appearances have been for Bayern Munich.
Regarding the players he surpassed, Thomas Müller has played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS since last year, while Lionel Messi remains active for Inter Miami. Former Munich player and 2014 World Cup winner Toni Kroos holds 151 Champions League appearances, though most of those were played for Real Madrid.
Physical challenges preceded the record-setting return
Despite the clean sheet and the historic milestone, Neuer revealed that his return to the starting lineup was uncertain until the final moments before kickoff. He reported that he only felt certain he could participate during the warm-up exercises.
Neuer described a difficult recovery process, noting that the injury had caused persistent discomfort.
⭐ 𝟭𝟲𝟰 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗼̈𝗻𝗶𝗴𝘀𝗸𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲 ⭐ Was für Meilenstein, @Manuel_Neuer! 🐐👏 #UCL pic.twitter.com/0XRL1AehSa
To manage the condition on the day of the match, the goalkeeper utilized water therapy.
This morning I was still in the water on the roof terrace at 14 degrees Celsius water temperature and gradually it also got better,
Manuel Neuer, via Prime Video
Neuer noted that the medical department did everything possible to ensure his availability for the match. He expressed significant happiness regarding his ability to play and contribute to the team’s clean sheet and 2-0 victory.
Manuel Neuer makes his 164th Champions League appearance this evening, the outright most by a German player in the competition's history. He moves above Thomas Müller. 🇩🇪#UCL pic.twitter.com/8kPBvvK3xe
Bayern Munich secures decisive away win
The match was tied 0-0 at the end of the first half. This result improves Bayern Munich’s standing in the Champions League, bringing them to eight points after four matches and supporting their chances for a direct entry into the round of 16.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Neuer emphasized the control the squad maintained throughout the evening.
Most appearances in Champions League history: ◎ 183 – Cristiano Ronaldo ◎ 177 – Iker Casillas ◉ 164 – Manuel Neuer ◎ 163 – Lionel Messi ◎ 163 – Thomas Müller Manu moves into third place overall. 👏 https://t.co/30SyKsay2E
I would say that was total dominance. From the 1st to the 93rd minute. That was fun,
Manuel Neuer, via Sky
Aaron Danks, who managed the lineup following the absences of Luis Díaz, Jamal Musiala, Ismael Saibari, and Serge Gnabry, expressed satisfaction with the team’s collective performance. Danks noted the group’s ability to defend together to achieve the shutout while also creating attacking opportunities. Behind striker Harry Kane, the offensive line featured Michael Olise, Lennart Karl, and Alphonso Davies. Olise had previously been substituted during a match against Borussia Dortmund due to knee issues but returned fit for this fixture.
Konrad Laimer, who scored the deciding goal, noted the squad’s confidence.
We went into the game and knew what we could do. We are very convinced of the squad we have. In the end, it is a very deserved victory against a good team,
Konrad Laimer, via Amazon Prime
Sport director Max Eberl praised the team’s high-level performance and specifically highlighted defender Dayot Upamecano, stating that he has played at a world-class level for weeks. The defensive lineup in front of Neuer consisted of Laimer, Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, and Josip Stanisic. In the midfield, Joshua Kimmich was paired with Tom Bischof on the double pivot, with Bischof starting ahead of Aleksandar Pavlovic.
Bayern Munich will return to domestic action this Saturday, November 7, for a Bundesliga match against 1. FSV Mainz 05. FSV Mainz 05.
A giant of European football 👏 Manuel Neuer moves third on the list of all-time #UCL appearance makers 🧤 pic.twitter.com/wt0QUQPMKC