Iker Casillas Liverpool PortoGetty

Casillas becomes first to play in 20 Champions League seasons

Iker Casillas has become the first player to participate in 20 Champions League seasons.

The Porto goalkeeper reached the mark when he started his side's opening Group D match against Schalke on Tuesday.

With the start, Casillas went past Manchester United great Ryan Giggs, who played in 19 Champions League campaigns.

Rounding out the top three is another United legend, Paul Scholes, who took part in 17 seasons in Europe's premier club competition. 

Casillas, 37, played in 16 Champions League campaigns with Real Madrid, and is now embarking on his fourth with the Portuguese side.

The former Spain international has won the competition three times: in 1999–00, 2001–02 and most recently in 2013–14, all of which came while playing for Real Madrid. 

With Porto, Casillas has managed to get out of the group stage in the past two seasons, but the team was knocked out in the round of 16 both times.

He has been more successful on the domestic front, helping Porto to a league title last term.

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