Short blanket or indispensable presence? This Monday (2), the CIES Football Observatory released a ranking of the players who played the most minutes on the field last year, and Júnior Alonso, from , leads the list.
The Galo defender was the athlete outside of Europe who played the most until February 25th, a period of competence assessed by the ranking – 5,903 minutes, considering only official games. In games, there are 61 in the 2025 season, for Copa Sudamericana, Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil and Campeonato Mineiro. In 2026, eight, for the Brasileirão and the State.
Second in the ranking, Freytes, from Fluminense, has played 5,716 minutes. In addition to the same tournaments played by Alonso – Copa do Brasil, State, South American and Brazilian -, the Argentine was also in the Club World Cup, accumulating 61 games in the season. In 2026, it already totals 10.
Brazilians dominate the ranking
Although the survey considers all clubs outside Europe, Brazilian clubs dominate the top positions. Of the 10 athletes highlighted by the observatory, eight play in the country – including Gustavo Gómez, who at the beginning of the year was recognized as the line player with .
Check out the full list:
- Junior Alonso (Atlético-MG) – 5,903 minutes
- Juan Pablo Freytes (Fluminense) – 5,716
- Alan Franco (Atlético-MG) – 5,627
- Rafael Carrascal (America de Cali) – 5,611
- Léo Pereira (Flamengo) – 5,552
- Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras) – 5,488
- Érik Lira (Cruz Azul) – 5,320
- Martinelli (Fluminense) – 5,241
- Piquerez (Palmeiras) – 5,228
- Matheuzinho (Corinthians) – 5,271
Ranking Europeu
The CIES Observatory also released the list of players with the most minutes playing in Europe. The ranking is led by Hans Vanaken, from Club Brugge, Belgium, who played in the Champions League this season. Check it out.
- Hans Vanaken (Bruges) – 5,745 minutes
- Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica) – 5,702
- Vitinha (PSG) – 5,619
- Van Dijk (Liverpool) – 5,490
- Skriniar (Fenerbahçe) – 5.420
- Cucurella (PSG) – 5,403
- Brandon Mechele (Bruges) – 5,380
- Pavlidis (Benfica) – 5,361
- Rasking (Rangers) – 5.344
- Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) – 5,310
