Ex-Manchester United winger set to break 11-year Ryan Giggs record after “immortal” Champions League display

One of Manchester United’s former players looks set to break Ryan Giggs’ Champions League record that he set 11 years ago.

Manchester United have had many players hold many records over the years. Sir Alex Ferguson‘s crop of players have set the bar outrageously high, with those such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and Wayne Rooney all smashing club, domestic, and international records.

However, very few players have been able to hold a candle to the records set by former United winger and Wales international Ryan Giggs.

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Giggs has made a record 963 appearances for United while also being one of the most decorated players of all time with 34 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League winners’ medals, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and a Fifa Club World Cup.

He also holds the record for most consecutive appearances without a red card, having not received one across his 963-game career.

Giggs’ Champions League record

According to Opta, Giggs also holds the record for most assists in Champions League history, boasting a mind-blowing 41 across his 20-year career in the competition.

Giggs’ final assist came in 2013 when United faced Bayer Leverkusen. The Welshman assisted Nani’s 89th-minute goal that handed the Reds a 5-0 win away from home.

Giggs is also known to be one of just five players who have assisted four goals in a single Champions League game, which the former United interim boss managed during a 7-1 win over Roma in 2007.

The player Giggs assisted most often was Wayne Rooney, who reaped the benefit from six assists by the Academy graduate.

Record set to be broken

However, Giggs’ assist record is set to be broken by former Manchester United winger Angel di Maria, who put on a stunning display as Benfica defeated AS Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Di Maria, the man United bought for just shy of £60 million in 2014 before selling for £44.3 million to Paris St. Germain just one year later after falling out with the club, assisted twice in four minutes as his Benfica side won 3-2 away from home.

These two assists have raised his total to 38 in the competition, just three away from Giggs’. If AS’ assessment of the player is anything to go by, 36-year-old Di Maria will have more than enough time to eclipse the former United player.

“Ángel Di María could continue playing for more than ten years, and his talent would continue intact,” they wrote in reaction to his display. “With astonishing ease, as if he were 25 years old, the Argentine turned the game around for Benfica.”

Champions League all-time assists

According to Opta, these are the top 10 all-time assist makers in Champions League history.

Ryan Giggs – 41
Cristiano Ronaldo – 40
Lionel Messi – 39
Ángel Di María – 38
David Beckham – 36
Luís Figo – 34
Xavi – 31
Neymar – 30
Raúl – 27
Karim Benzema – 27

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