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Loyal footballers have essentially become a thing of the past in the modern game, with long-time players of a club often shifting allegiances in search of better footballing prospects and/or more lucrative contracts. This is by no means a statement on the morale of such footballers as it only reflects the nature of the highly commercialized modern game.
The likes of Marco Reus at Borussia Dortmund, Gerard Pique at Barcelona and Giorgio Chiellini at Juventus have received widespread plaudits for their undying loyalty towards the club. A budding footballer working their way through the club's youth setup to become a regular starter for the senior team is still one of the best sights for football fans.
Today, we take a look at the five biggest one-club men in football history.
#5 Paul Scholes
The 11-time Premier League winner is one of the greatest midfielders in the history of English football, with a career spanning over two decades for the Red Devils.
At age 16, Paul Scholes formally joined Manchester United's youth academy and would go on to make his senior team debut, just three years later against Port Vale in a League Cup encounter. Born in the Greater Manchester area, Scholes emphatically announced his arrival in professional football when he scored a brace on his debut, securing a 2-1 win for Manchester United. In the next couple of decades, Paul Scholes would lay his hands on eleven Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cup winners medals, three League Cup titles and a FIFA Club World Cup accolade, to name just a few.
In an interview, Xavi described Scholes as "a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn't give possession away." Pele, one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game, said: "If he (Scholes) was playing with me, I would have scored so many more."
The Englishman has acquired legendary status among the Manchester United faithful, representing the legendary club a whopping 718 times. Scholes racked up 155 goals in his time at the club.
#4 Steven Gerrard
Another prolific midfielder, Steven Gerrard, is undoubtedly among the greatest in the middle of the park in the 21st century.
While Liverpool have historically been a big club and regained their top status in recent years, the Englishman stuck with the club through an indifferent spell. Despite several offers from the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, Steven Gerrard persisted with his boyhood club for a memorable 17-year-long association. In 710 appearances for the club, Gerrard notched up 186 goals, along with 145 assists - making him a Liverpool legend and one of the greatest in the club's illustrious history.
Although the Premier League title eluded Gerrard, he would go on to lift a Champions League trophy, two FA Cup titles, three League Cups, one UEFA SuperCup and the UEFA Cup (now known as Europa League), to name a few.
In later interviews, Gerrard admitted that he might regret his decision not to join Real Madrid when he retires and looks back on his career. However, after 9 major trophies and establishing legendary status at his boyhood club - there's little to regret for the midfield maestro.
#3 Paolo Maldini
The Italian centre-half is regarded as one of the greatest defenders in the game's history and a footballing legend in every sense of the word.
At the tender age of 17, Paolo Maldini signed up for AC Milan's youth side and rapidly worked his way up the ranks to register an incredible tally of 902 appearances for the Rossoneri. Maldini was like an immovable force in Milan's backline and formed one of world football's most lethal defensive partnerships along with another long-time servant of the club, Franco Baresi.
In an illustrious 25-year spell with his boyhood club, Maldini won twenty-six trophies, including three Champions League trophies, two European Champion Clubs' Cup titles, seven Serie A titles, four UEFA SuperCup's, five Italian Super Cup's and a FIFA Club World Cup title, to name just a few.
Nicknamed "Il Capitano" by the fans, it was almost impossible to get past Paolo Maldini, as his positioning and defensive acumen were second to none. The Italian was also effective on the other side of the pitch, with 33 career goals for the Rossoneri.
#2 Francesco Totti
Next up, we have one of football's most legendary one-club men, Francesco Totti, who spent the length of his 25-year-long professional career at AS Roma.
The Italian is the club's most capped player with 786 appearances under his belt, resulting in a stellar tally of 307 goals. Totti is also AS Roma's leading goalscorer to date and has played in the joint-most Serie A seasons (25), along with Paolo Maldini. The former AS Roma manager proved to be one of the most loyal footballers in the history of the game, having rejected offers from some of world football's biggest clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United. Totti was at the peak of his powers in the 2006/07 season, where he notched up 32 goals and 15 assists for the season. After winning the Serie A Golden Boot and European Golden Boot that season, Totti had the option of leaving for the traditionally "bigger" European clubs. Still, he remained loyal to his boyhood love.
As Totti explained, "I had everything I wanted: love and passion were more important to me than winning trophies elsewhere. I put Roma ahead of myself, personal issues and a private life. Roma was everything."
"Il Gladiatore" fulfilled his dream of lifting a Scudetto in the 2000-01 season and would also go on to lift two Coppa Italia's and two Italian SuperCup's.
#1 Lionel Messi
Barcelona's greatest player of the 21st century has also been one of their most loyal servants over the years and is rumored to be keen to sign a new contract to extend his 21-year stay at Camp Nou.
Reports suggest that Lionel Messi is willing to take a 50% pay cut to ease some of the pressure on the financially-strapped Barcelona administration. Another spell at the club will only consolidate Leo Messi's stature amongst the Blaugrana faithful and the general footballing populace as a whole. Like most relationships, this one experienced several periods of the highest of highs and some severe lows.
Messi became just the second player to register 700 appearances for Barcelona and is currently the record holder for most appearances (778) in the famous blue and garnet of the Blaugrana. In his time at Camp Nou, Lionel Messi has won every major trophy he has competed for at club level, including ten La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, seven Copa del Rey's, three Club World Cup's and eight Spanish Super Cup's, to name just a few. The Argentine maestro also played an indispensable role in European football's first-ever sextuple-winning side under Pep Guardiola.
"La Pulga" also holds the distinction of being the highest goalscorer in Barcelona's history, with an incredible tally of 672 goals and 288 assists. Messi has also won six Ballon d'Or accolades, along with an Olympic gold medal and the 2020-21 Copa America during his time at Camp Nou.
