Gareth Bale, Ryan Giggs, Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies: Who are Wales's top UEFA Champions League performers?

Saturday, May 30, 2026

Which Welsh players have the most appearances and goals in Europe's leading club competition?

Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, Ryan Giggs and Ben Davies ©Getty Images

Welsh clubs did not compete in UEFA competition until the 1990s after the establishment of a national league in 1992, though a number of sides from Wales continue to play in the English divisions, most notably Cardiff City and their local rivals Swansea City. Welsh talent sparkled in Europe in some of the great Manchester United and Liverpool sides of old, while Gareth Bale flew the flag for his country in the 21st century, appearing in four UEFA Champions League final wins for Real Madrid.

Last updated: 30/05/2026

Most appearances by Welsh players in the UEFA Champions League (group stage/league phase to final)

145: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
66: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid)
58: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, Juventus)
28: Ben Davies (Tottenham)
16: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle, Liverpool)
16: Gary Speed (Leeds, Newcastle)
14: John Hartson (Celtic)
10: Joe Ledley (Celtic)
9: Adam Matthews (Celtic)
7: Mark Hughes (Manchester United)
7: Neco Williams (Liverpool)

Top-scoring Welsh players in the UEFA Champions League (group stage/league phase to final)

Watch THAT Bale overhead kick in the 2018 final

28: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
20: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid)
9: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, Juventus)
3: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle, Liverpool)
2: John Hartson (Celtic)
2: Mark Hughes (Manchester United)
2: Gary Speed (Leeds, Newcastle)
1: Simon Davies (Manchester United)
1: Daniel James (Manchester United)
1: Brennan Johnson (Tottenham)

Most appearances by Welsh players in UEFA club competition (all rounds)*

159: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
101: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid)
88: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, Juventus, Rangers, Nice)
81: Ben Davies (Swansea, Tottenham Hotspur)
56: Gary Speed (Leeds, Newcastle, Bolton)
50: John Toshack (Cardiff, Liverpool)
45: Adam Matthews (Celtic, Omonoia, Shamrock Rovers)
44: Mark Hughes (Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern München, Chelsea)
43: Ian Rush (Liverpool, Juventus, Newcastle)
41: Aeron Edwards (The New Saints, Connah's Quay Nomads, Bala Town)
41: John Hartson (Arsenal, Celtic)

Top-scoring Welsh players in UEFA club competition (all rounds)*

Giggs, Bale, Rush: Great goals from Welsh legends

30: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
27: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid)
21: Ian Rush (Liverpool, Juventus, Newcastle)
20: John Toshack (Cardiff, Liverpool)
18: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, Juventus, Rangers, Nice)
15: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester City)
12: Dean Saunders (Liverpool, Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Bradford City)
11: Mark Hughes (Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern München, Chelsea)
8: Peter King (Cardiff)

Notable firsts

First Welshman to play in a European Cup/UEFA Champions League final
Terry Yorath (Bayern 2-0 Leeds United, 1974/75)

First Welshman to win the European Cup/UEFA Champions League
Joey Jones (Liverpool 3-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach, 1976/77)

First Welshman to score in a European Cup/UEFA Champions League final
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid 4-1 Atlético de Madrid, aet, 2013/14)

Watch Ryan Giggs' 2008 triumph

First Welshman to win the European Cup Winners' Cup
Cliff Jones (Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Atlético de Madrid, 1962/63)

First Welshman to win the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League
Mike England (Tottenham Hotspur 3-2agg Wolverhampton Wanderers, 1971/72)

First Welshman to score in a UEFA final
Mike England (Tottenham Hotspur 2-4agg Feyenoord, 1973/74 UEFA Cup)

First Welshman to appear in a UEFA final for a non-UK team
Nick Deacy (PSV Eindhoven 3-0agg Bastia, 1977/78 UEFA Cup)

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*UEFA club competitions means European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, European/South American Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Intertoto Cup

Gareth Bale, Ryan Giggs, Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies: Who are Wales's top UEFA Champions League performers?

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Most appearances by Welsh players in the UEFA Champions League (group stage/league phase to final)

Top-scoring Welsh players in the UEFA Champions League (group stage/league phase to final)

Most appearances by Welsh players in UEFA club competition (all rounds)*

Top-scoring Welsh players in UEFA club competition (all rounds)*

Notable firsts

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