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It would be reductive to say that loyalty is not so common anymore in the world of football. While it is true that there has been a severe decline in the number of 'one-club players', players still give it their all for the badge.
Old-school values are still revered but perhaps not adhered to like they used to be. So players strutting their stuff for a single club throughout their careers has become a bit of a rarity. But there are still plenty of players who settle down at a club and decide to stick around for a very long time.
Players like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Xavi, Steven Gerrard are all examples of one-club players. Without further ado, let's take a look at five players who have spent the most time at one club.
#5 Marcelo (Real Madrid) - 14 years, seven months
Brazilian left-back Marcelo joined Real Madrid from Fluminese in 2007 and has made the Spanish capital his home. The 33-year-old has established himself as one of the best full-backs of his generation.
He has enjoyed an illustrious career at Real Madrid and has won five La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles, two Copa Del Rey titles and four Supercopa de Espanas. Marcelo is a treat to watch on the football pitch.
He is one of the most technically proficient attacking full-backs and his ball control is second to none. Marcelo has made 539 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring 41 goals and 101 assists across all competitions.
Marcelo is no longer seen as indispensable at Real Madrid and has been playing second-fiddle to Ferland Mendy in recent seasons.
#4 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 16 years
Lionel Messi has dominated headlines over the past 24 hours following Barcelona's announcement of his departure. The Argentine never looked back after joining his dream club. He made his first team debut in November 2003 but broke onto the first team scene in the 2004-05 season.
He has gone on to become one of the greatest footballers of all time. Messi has won a record six Ballons d'Or with Barcelona. He has enjoyed an exceptional career winning 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, seven Copa Del Reys and seven Supercopa de Espanas.
He has won a ridiculous number of individual accolades as well and is arguably the greatest player to have played for Barcelona. The Catalans will be without Messi next season and he will be sorely missed after 16 years of exceptional service.
#3 Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus) - 16 years, one month
Juventus veteran Giorgio Chiellini is still one of the best centre-backs in the world at the age of 36. He joined Juventus in 2004 and was immediately sold on a co-ownership deal to Fiorentina and spent that season on loan there.
Chiellini was a regular starter for Fiorentina and Juventus paid €4.3 million to bring him back to Turin in the 2005-06 season. He used to shift between left-back and centre-back in his younger days. He has since made the centre-back position his own.
Over the course of 16 years, Chiellini has made 535 appearances for Juventus. He has scored 36 goals and provided 24 assists as well. Chiellini most recently played a starring role in Italy's triumphant run at Euro 2020.
#2 Francesco Magnanelli (Sassuolo) - 16 years, one month
Italian midfielder Francesco Magnanelli made his professional football debut with Gubbio in the 2000-01 season. He played for four different clubs in five years before joining Sassuolo in 2005.
A hard-working midfielder, Magnanelli is a tactically intelligent and technically adept midfielder. He is also a tenacious presence at the heart of midfield and is relentless when it comes to hounding opposition players and winning the ball back.
He is 36-years-old now and has become a peripheral figure of sorts in recent seasons. He made just 10 appearances for Sassuolo in the 2020-21 season and failed to score or provide an assist.
Magnanelli has made 475 appearances for Sassuolo in his 16-year stint and is currently preparing ahead of the 2021-22 season.
#1 Mark Noble (West Ham United) - 17 years, seven months
Mark Noble is lovingly called Mr. West Ham and has now been at the club for 17 years and seven months. He has been a stable presence at the heart of midfield and is a very reliable campaigner even at the age of 34.
Noble has played more games for West Ham United than any other player. He was chosen as the Hammer of the Year trophy on two occasions. He was also voted Hammer of the Decade in 2020.
The Englishman has been quite reliable for the Hammers from the spot and has been their go-to penalty taker for years. Noble has made 544 appearances for West Ham United in his career spanning 17 years and seven months. He has scored 61 goals and provided 63 assists in that time.
