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USMNT Nov 26, 2020

USMNT hits new record with 8 players appearing in the UEFA Champions League

Konrad de la Fuente (FC Barcelona) and Chris Richards (Bayern Munich) appeared for their respective clubs in the UEFA Champions League this week, which took the number of U.S. players to appear in the current competition to eight – a new record.

Having already tied the U.S. record of six different players appearing in the same UCL competitionearlier this fall, de la Fuente officially became the seventh U.S. player to play in the current Champions League when he came on in the 83rd minute of FC Barcelona’s 4-0 win against Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday.

One day later, Chris Richards took the number of USMNT players to appear in the current competition to eight when he started Bayern Munich’s UCL tie with Red Bull Salzburg.

The UCL appearances cap a big month for the duo, both of whom also earned their USMNT debuts during the recently concluded November camp — de la Fuente started the team’s 0-0 draw with Wales on Nov. 12, while Richards was an 80th minute substitute in the 6-2 win against Panama on Nov. 16.

The previous U.S. record was set during the 2004-05 edition of the Champions League. Check out a side-by-side comparison of the USA’s Champions League representation from 16 years ago and today below.

2004-05 Champions League 2020-21 Champions League
DaMarcus Beasley PSV Tyler Adams RB Leipzig
Landon Donovan Bayer Leverkusen Konrad de la Fuente Barcelona
Tim Howard Manchester United Sergiño Dest Barcelona
Jermaine Jones Bayer Leverkusen Ethan Horvath Club Brugge
Robbie Russell* Rosenborg Weston McKennie Juventus
Jonathan Spector Manchester United Christian Pulisic Chelsea
Gio Reyna Borussia Dortmund
Chris Richards Bayern Munich
*Robbie Russell never appeared for the USMNT

 

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