Europe's club icons: Messi second most loyal - Müller and Ramos in top 30

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It would end an era in European club football should Lionel Messi leave Barcelona this summer. Messi, who wants to leave the club, has been a part of Barça's first team for 16 years, seven months, and 26 days—in Europe's ten best leagues there are only eight players that managed 15-years at their club, in Sergio Ramos the ninth player will join that group soon. 

"We can't turn this into a fight between Leo Messi and Barcelona, nobody deserves that," sporting director Ramón Planes said. Messi wants to trigger a clause that would allow him to leave the club on a free-agent deal this summer. Barça, however, are of the opinion that the clause has already expired this summer. Nonetheless, it looks like the two will go separate ways. 

Stats

L. Messi Right Winger

FC Barcelona

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

778

Goals

672

Assists

303

Messi is not the only club icon to be on the verge of leaving the club. Just ten months ago kicker reported that Thomas Müller could leave Bayern Munich and join Inter Milan, Sport Bild wrote that Manchester United were interested in a winter transfer. Under head coach Niko Kovac, Müller was on the fringe of the first XI but ever since Hansi Flick has taken over the attacking player has been in phenomenal form. 

Stats

T. Müller Second Striker

Bayern Munich

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

706

Goals

242

Assists

267

Müller has been a part of the treble winners' first team for 12 years, one month and 27 days and alongside Borussia Dortmund's Marcel Schmelzer is the only Bundesliga player in the top 30 of Europe's most loyal players. While Schmelzer, whose contract will expire in 2021, is only a part-time player for Dortmund now, other club icons continue to be important starters for their clubs. 

Stats

I. Akinfeev Goalkeeper

CSKA Moscow

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

763

Goals against

694

Clean sheets

317

For example, Mark Noble (West Ham), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Anthony Lopes (Lyon), and Igor Akinfeev. The CSKA Moscow keeper has been the number one at his club since 2003 and is first in the ranking of the most loyal players in Europe.