Ryan Giggs breaks the Champions League appearance record

October 3, 2013
Posted by Steven Tan | Source from Dailymail.co.uk
One of the most decorated footballers of all-time, there isn't much left for Ryan Giggs to achieve. 
 
The Manchester United midfielder has a clutch of Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League medals to his name. 
 
And Giggs had another honour bestowed upon him on Wednesday night when David Moyes threw him on when the Reds took on Shakhtar Dontesk in Ukraine.
 
Coming off the bench, the Welshman made his 145th appearance in Europe's elite competition. 
 
That's more than anyone else, as he surpasses Raul - with whom he shared the record. Giggs - the man who keeps on going - clearly isn't content with being the longest-serving player in England and the player to have scored in more European seasons than anyone else.
 
But when asked by mufc.com about even more record breaking, the 39-year-old was typically nonplussed. 
 
'Really? Wow. I didn’t know that,' Giggs said. 'It’s a great competition and I’ve been lucky enough to win it twice and play a lot of memorable matches.
 
'There have been so many great players to have graced the tournament and Raul is up there as one of the very best – he has a great goalscoring record and he’s won the competition three times. If I do pass him it will be a great source of pride for me.'
 
Here, Sportsmail takes a look at his five best Champions League moments.

1994 - First goal

 
It wasn't long before Giggs became integral to Manchester United's plans in Europe. Behind at home to Gothenburg in September 1994, the then-21-year-old equalised before half-time and then added a third after the break. 
 
Sir Alex Ferguson's side went on to win 4-2, although eventually came third in their group behind the Swedes and Barcelona. 
 
For Giggs, though, he was becoming accustom to the stage.

1997 - Vital against Juventus

You may have seen a similar finish to this one in a certain 1999 FA Cup semi-final. Giggs had plenty of practice before that stunner against Arsenal, as this - against Juventus at Old Trafford - proves. 
 
taking Teddy Sheringham's pass, the winger sprinted beyond his marker before smashing a shot past Angelo Peruzzi high into the corner. 
 
Juve had been the best side around, and Giggs' late decisive goal gave United a 3-2 win in that group stage match and the belief that the competition was winnable. 
This goal is the second on the compilation video below.

1999 - Crucial cog in final win

Giggs may not have been on the score sheet, but his importance to the Reds' cause at the Nou Camp was almost unrivalled. 
 
Asked to do a job out of position on the right hand side - not as common as it is now - he was excellent throughout the final against Bayern Munich and assisted Sheringham's equalising goal before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finished off the comeback.

2003 - All about Giggs in Turin

It's hard to believe that he was approaching 30 by the time Giggs' pace tore the Juventus defence to shreds in Turin. He scored twice to give United a 3-0 victory, helping book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
 
Tjhe second in particular was a piece of individual brilliance which culminated in a low shot with his weaker right foot after slaloming his way to goal from just inside the Juve half.

2008 - Securing second winners' medal

On the night he broke Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record for the club - his 759th game - it was left for Giggs to score the decisive penalty which went on to send the travelling supporters, and John Terry for different reasons, delirious. 
 
He netted moments before Nicolas Anelka saw a kick saved by Edwin van der Sar. 
 
There were no nerves - Giggs got on with it and sent Petr Cech the wrong way.
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