L'Equipe has compiled the top 20 most-used players this season, including club and country matches. Five players from the continent stand out in the ranking.
Four Africans feature in the world's top 20 most-used outfield players this season. The ranking takes into account club and international matches. It considers the number of minutes spent on the pitch and the number of matches played.
Mohamed Salah tops the list with 5,454 minutes in 66 games for Liverpool and Egypt. The Reds have taken part in three finals. The Pharaohs, on the other hand, have played in the 2021 African Cup of Nations final and two play-off matches for the 2022 World Cup. The Egyptian striker is second in the world's top 20, which is dominated by Antonio Rüdiger (5,645 minutes/61 matches).
Salah is followed in the African pack by his teammate Sadio Mané, fourth in the world top 20. Like the Pharaoh, the Lion of Teranga has taken part in all three Liverpool finals. He also took part in the final of the 2021 African Cup of Nations (winner) and in the play-offs for the World Cup (Senegal qualified). He has played 5,354 minutes in 67 matches (the highest total in the world).
After the two Liverpool players, two Rennes defenders complete the African contingent of the world's top 20 most used players this season. They are Moroccan Nayed Aguerd and Malian Hamari Traore. They recorded 4928 (55 matches) and 4694 minutes (54 matches) of playing time respectively.
If the goalkeepers were taken into account, the ranking would be different. Africa would then have at least five players in the top 20, with Edouard Mendy in addition. Even better, the Chelsea and Teranga Lion's goalkeeper, with 5,878 minutes played in 63 matches, would even be ahead of his now ex-teammate Antonio Rüdiger (who has signed for Real Madrid).
