Barcelona star Sergio Busquets passes legends Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos for all-time El Clasico appearance record
- Busquets made 46th El Clasico appearance
- Overtook Messi and Ramos on 45 each
- Could make it 48 by end of season
WHAT HAPPENED? Barca and Madrid faced up for the third time this season in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg tie. The 34-year-old once again started in midfield for Xavi's side, crowning him with the 46th El Clasico appearance of his career. The start takes Busquets above both Messi and Ramos, who called time on their La Liga careers having played in 45 derbies each.
46 - Sergio Busquets 🇪🇸 will make his 46th appearance in #ElClásico in all competitions, surpassing Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos (45 each) as the player with the most appearances in the games between #RealMadrid and @FCBarcelona 🔵🔴. Legend. pic.twitter.com/6aMeBYwGJU
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 2, 2023
THE BIGGER PICTURE: With the Copa del Rey return leg still to play in a months' time, as well as the league match at Camp Nou between the two meetings, Busquets will have the opportunity to take his total to 48 before a decision is made on his future in the summer. Thursday's match finished 1-0 to the away side, with an Eder Militao own-goal giving Xavi's a slim advantage to take to Camp Nou. The win also took Sergio Busquets to 22 in his El Clasico career, overtaking Paco Gento (21) as the most in the history of the derby.
Sergio Busquets is now the player with most wins in El Clásico history - 22, going past Paco Gento's 21.
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) March 2, 2023
Busquets also became the player with most appearances in El Clásico history earlier today - 46, going past Messi and Ramos' 45.
Legend. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GgW7oWwErZ
WHAT NEXT FOR BUSQUETS? Before the next two matches against his eternal rivals, the veteran Spaniard will hope to feature in some capacity in Barca's league game at home to Valencia on Sunday.