When the stakes are highest, teams will go to any lengths to win. Nowhere is this truer than in Europe’s elite competitions, and in this article, we’ll reveal the players with the most yellow cards in Champions League history.
When everything is on the line, players can pick up yellow cards for all sorts of reasons. It could be a cynical foul to break up a dangerous counterattack, a rash challenge as tempers flare, or even time-wasting as players try to run down the clock.
Most yellow cards in Champions League history: Top 10
10. Carles Puyol – 25
Kicking off our list is Barcelona legend Carles Puyol.
The Spanish centre-back and one club man picked up 25 bookings in his lengthy Champions League career, which spanned 115 games. He only picked up a card every 360 minutes, the slowest rate on this list
9. Dani Alves – 27
Slightly ahead of Puyol is his former teammate Dani Alves, on 27 yellows.
Alves was a passionate player, and as a flying full-back often sprinting back, risky challenges were an occupational hazard.
8. Gennaro Gattuso – 28
Leading a three-way tie on 28 bookings is AC Milan’s infamous hatchet-man midfielder, Gennaro Gattuso.
The Italian regularly anchored a midfield that contained the creative talents of Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Kaka. Given the amount of work he had to get through, 28 bookings isn’t too bad.
8. Fernandinho – 28
Like Gattuso, Fernandinho often sat at the base of very attacking midfield setups, and was tasked with breaking up counterattacks.
The Brazilian enforcer picked up 28 cards across 108 Champions League appearances, split between Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City.
8. Gerard Pique – 28
Puyol’s long-term Barcelona defensive partner and friend, Gerard Pique is next on our list.
Pique picked up 28 yellow cards across his 128 Champions League appearances. But having won Europe’s greatest trophy four times, including once at Manchester United, we doubt he’d do anything differently.
5. Pepe – 30
Long considered one of the game’s most cynical players, Pepe has finally hung up his boots following this summer’s European Championships.
The 41-year-old was superb against Arsenal in this season’s Champions League, and picked up the final of his 30 yellow cards in the competition.
5. Marco Verratti – 30
A name that may surprise some toed with Pepe is that of Marco Verratti.
The technically gifted midfielder picked up a whopping 30 yellow cards in 79 Champions League appearances for Paris Saint-Germain. At a rate of a booking every 199 minutes, he picked up cards quicker than anyone on this list and by some distance.
There are two key reasons for Verratti’s notoriety among referees.
Firstly, Verratti often played at the base of midfield, but due to his diminutive 5ft5in frame, he was often forced to make cynical challenges to stop bigger players from getting away from him.
Secondly, the Italian had a temper that would get him into trouble. He also picked up three red cards in the Champions League.
3. Xabi Alonso – 31
Another holding midfielder, Xabi Alonso would often run games in possession with his incredible range of passing and ability to set the tempo.
However, the Spaniard was no slouch off the ball, and was often tasked with snuffing out dangerous counters.
Bookings, as seen for other players in this role on our list, are an occupational hazard. Alonso picked up 31 yellow cards in his 119 Champions League appearances for Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
2. Paul Scholes – 32
Runner-up on our list is Manchester United legend Paul Scholes.
The midfielder was one of the most technically gifted players of his generation, and was instrumental to United’s Champions League wins in 1999 and 2008.
But the Englishman had a real edge to his game, and was not afraid to make crunching tackles, for better or worse. Scholes picked up 32 yellow cards in his 124 Champions League appearances.
1. Sergio Ramos – 43
Running away with the most yellow cards in Champions League history trophy is, of course, Sergio Ramos, with 43
If ever there was a player to demonstrate how essential the ‘dark arts’ are to success in football, it would be Sergio Ramos. The Spaniard is a master of getting under opponents’ skin, physically unnerving players and using any means necessary to gain even the slightest edge.
Ramos’ exploits in his 142 Champions League appearances saw him win the tournament four times, including a stunning three-peat with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018. He was a key part of making Real the most successful ever Champions League side.
Having turned out in the Champions League for PSG and Sevilla as well as Los Blancos, the now 38-year-old is currently a free agent, but has not retired… could he pick up yet more bookings at a new club?