4 Champions Leagues 

©TM/IMAGO

Raphaël Varane has announced his retirement from football aged just 31 due to a serious knee injury. The legendary French defender moved to Italian club Como this summer after leaving Manchester United but he succumbed to injury just 23 minutes into his debut and he’s made the decision to hang up his boots. Varane’s name will be etched in history as one of the most decorated defenders in the 21st century with four Champions League titles, three La Liga titles and the World Cup trophy amongst his vast silverware collection. Fittingly, Varane’s last ninety minutes in football ended in him lifting the FA Cup at Wembley last season as he referenced in an emotional statement confirming his retirement.

It read: “I hold myself to the highest standard, I want to go out strong, not just holding on to the game. It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct. Desire and needs are two different things. I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it’s the moment to stop and hang my boots up with my final game winning a trophy at Wembley. I have loved fighting for myself, my clubs, my country, my teammates and the supporters of every team I have played for. From Lens to Madrid to Manchester, and playing for our national team. I have defended every badge with everything I have, and loved every minute of the journey.”

Who Raphaël Varane played most games with across his career

After leaving Lens as a youngster, Varane spent a decade at Real Madrid enjoying incredible success with the Spanish giants. Unsurprisingly, when analysing which players Varane played most with across his career, Madrid teammates dominate. The Frenchman played 573 games across his career with 360 of them in the famous white shirt. As the graphic below shows, Varane played with Karim Benzema more than any other player with the duo lining up for Madrid and France 318 times.

 Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo are the only other players on the list that Varane played with at two clubs with the Brazilian midfielder and Portuguese superstar joining him at Man United. Toni Kroos ranks second as Varane’s most used teammate with fellow midfield genuins Luka Modric coming in fourth. Varane’s centre-back partnership with Sergio Ramos was integral to Madrid winning four Champions League’s during the 31-year-old’s time in Spain and they lined up together on 228 occasions.