#15 – #11
Toni Kroos was the engine and heartbeat of Real Madrid’s midfield as they won the double and he is 15th on the list. Although he played fewer games than most at the top of this list, he did play the full 90 minutes. However, he played only 89 minutes of the Champions League final – a wise move by Zidane as the German got his own round of applause before the final whistle for a season well played.
| # | PLAYER | CLUB | MATCHES | MINUTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Toni Kroos | Real Madrid | 55 | 4,815 |
| 14 | Alexis Sanchez | Arsenal | 58 | 4,854 |
| 13 | Gonzalo Higuain | Juventus | 60 | 4,857 |
| 12 | Anthony Lopes | Lyon | 54 | 4,875 |
| 11 | Yann Sommer | Borussia M'gladbach | 54 | 4,890 |
In 14th is Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez who is akin to a machine, the Duracell bunny that never stops working, and it comes as no surprise that he finds himself on this list. Despite Arsene Wenger’s insistence on resting him (and “punishing” him in the loss to Liverpool), the Chilean forward managed to play all 38 league games (only two as a substitute) for his 24 goals and 10 assists – the only Premier League player to finish in double figures for both.
Gonzalo Higuain was bought by Juventus for a record fee to help them deliver the Champions League. He almost made it happen as The Old Lady fell at the final hurdle. Nevertheless, the Argentine forward’s fitness helped them seal a domestic double as they won the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia.
