Ryan Giggs, the legendary Welsh footballer, made European Champions League history by making his debut for Manchester United against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday (66th minute). Giggs played his 145th Champions League match, surpassing the previous record held by the Spanish player Raul Gonzalez Blanco (144), who played for Real Madrid and Schalke 04.
Despite being 40 years old (born on November 29), Giggs, of Sierra Leonean origin through his father, who was a mixed-race rugby league player, continues to captivate the football world. His remarkable career shows no signs of slowing down. Giggs has extended his contract with Manchester United for three more seasons, with the option to renew for another year, ensuring that he continues to contribute to the team for the foreseeable future.
Giggs’ achievements in numbers:
- 145 Champions League matches
- 122 as a starter
- 30 goals
- Over 1000 matches played professionally (as of March 5, 2013)
- 2 Champions League titles won
