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The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in the world, where European clubs from different countries battle it out to be crowned Europe's best.
In 1992, the European Cup was rebranded into the Champions league and current title holders, Real Madrid remain the only club to have successfully defended the trophy they won the previous year.
For a club and its players to win the trophy in two consecutive seasons is hard enough, but for an individual player to appear in five or more finals is near on impossible. Although, there are five players in the modern era of the Champions League who have appeared in 5 or more finals.
Here we take a look at five legendary footballers who have won Europe's elite prize but have competed in 5 or more finals.
#5 Patrice Evra
37-year-old, West Ham United defender, Patrice Evra is only one of five players in the history of the game to have reached 5 Champions League finals in his career. The French defender began his career in 1998 and got his first big break with Nice before moving to join Monaco.
In 2004, aged, 23, Evra appeared in his first Champions League final against Porto and was part of the losing Monaco side. He then moved to Manchester United where he appeared in two finals for the club, winning one in 2008. Evra joined Juventus after leaving United and was part of the team in two finals with the Turin club.
A fabulous fullback with great energy and desire, Evra was one of the best in the world at one stage and still plies his trade at the highest level of the game in the Premier League with West Ham United.
#4 Edwin van der Sar
Dutch goalkeeping legend, Edwin van der Sar began his career with Ajax in 1990 and spent nine years at the club winning one Champions League title and reaching the finals on two occasions. The victory came in 94-95 in a penalty shoot-out and finished runners-up in the 95-96 season.
The Dutchman then joined Juventus and played in the final for the losing club against Real Madrid. After which a stint at Fulham was followed by the move to Manchester United, where the player would go on to win one more tournament in Europe and appear in two more finals. In total Van der Sar played in five Champions League finals.
Van der Sar is one of the best goalkeepers to have graced the game in the recent past and is the current CEO of Ajax Football Club.
#3 Clarence Seedorf
Surinamese-born, former Dutch midfielder, Clarence Seedorf is a four-time Champions League winner, with Ajax, Real Madrid and twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007. Widely considered to be one of the greatest central midfielders of all-time, Seedorf began his career at Ajax in 1992 and has made five Champions League final appearances.
After three years in Holland, the player preferred a move to Italian side Sampdoria although it lasted only a season before Real Madrid signed the player in 1996. He won the Champions League and a couple of La Liga title with the club.
However, Seedorf would cause a huge uproar in Milan as he switched Inter for AC Milan in 2002. The Dutchman played for 10 years at the club appearing in three finals winning two.
Seedorf went into management immediately after retirement and took charge of AC Milan in 2014. He was sacked in a few months due to poor performances and is now an aspiring coach.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo
On the verge of competing in his sixth Champions League final, Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo will be the only player along with Paolo Maldini to win five Champions League in the modern era.
With four victories in the tournament with United and thrice with Madrid, the club and the player will be looking for a hat-trick of Champions Leagues in succession.
The tournament's leading goalscorer this season as well as the all-time record holder, the Portuguese player has owned this competition in recent years and is in line to be in the running for the Ballon d'Or award. With two final appearances for United that included one win, Ronaldo has never lost a Champions League final with Real Madrid and will be featuring in his fourth on Saturday.
#1 Paolo Maldini
The Italian legend is the only player to have featured in 8 Champions League finals in the modern era. Having played for a single club, Milan, during his illustrious career, Maldini is a unique footballer with a unique set of skills and played for 24 seasons with the same club.
A five-time Champions League winner, Maldini holds the record for numerous competitions as the player with the most appearances. The legendary Italian is in a league of his own and maybe one day Cristiano Ronaldo or some another player could break some of his records.
The legendary Italian and AC Milan defender, Paolo Maldini will be forever remembered the world over in football as one of the greatest defenders to have ever graced the beautiful game. With a career spanning 2 decades, Maldini accomplished almost everything there is to be done in world football.
