Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel makes top three in FIFPRO list

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The Celtic Star

·18 aprile 2025

Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel makes top three in FIFPRO list

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has earned a spot in FIFPRO’s Top 10 players with the most appearances in football during the past season, placing him among an exclusive group of footballers…

Kasper Schmeichel speaks to Gavin Strachan during the UEFA Champions League Training Session at Lennoxtown on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The 38-year-old goalkeeper, currently recovering from a shoulder injury, ranked third on the football union’s list of the seasons ‘most overworked’ players, with only Benfica’s Kerem Akturkoglu and Real Madrid icon Luka Modric ahead of him.

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The FIFPRO graphic shown below reveals that Kasper Schmeichel has played 54 matches this season, resulting in a 74 percent back-to-back match participation rate.

Although Modric and Akturkoglu outrank the Denmark legend, only Akturkoglu boasts a higher back-to-back game percentage, at 75%. Modric, who plays a more limited role for the Galactico’s now that he is 39 years-old recorded a percentage of just 41%.

In addition to the top three, FIFPRO’s top 10 features several notable players, including Federico Valverde and Julian Alvarez from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, as well as Barcelona’s Jules Kounde and Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot. The list is rounded off by Club Brugge’s exciting winger Christos Tzolis and Vangelis Pavlidis, and Dor Peretz.

🚨 Club World Cup-bound players are among the most overworked this season. 📊 New #FIFPRO data shows that minutes are piling up ahead of this summer's tournament. #AtTheLimit | @Football_BM
– mercoledì 16 aprile 2025

Viljami Sinisalo currently standing in for our injured Great Dane

Following his injury in Denmark’s Nations League match against Portugal in Copenhagen, Schmeichel has been replaced by Viljami Sinisalo in the sticks at Celtic, with the Finnish keeper joining from Aston Villa last summer for approximately £1 million.

Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo after Daniels Balodis of St Johnstone scored to give St Johnstone a 1-0 lead. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, , McDiarmid Park, Perth, 06 April 2025: Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock

The Finland international, with three caps to his name, has featured in three matches during Schmeichel’s absence, recording one clean sheet against Hearts. He had a productive loan spell at Exeter City in League One last season, where he played under former Celtic defender Gary Caldwell. Sinisalo was awarded both Player’s Player of the Season and Fans’ Player of the Season in recognition of his outstanding performances during the 2023/24 campaign.

Kasper aiming to return before season ends

After playing a vital part in Celtic’s success this season it would be pleasing to see Schmeichel return to full fitness and feature in the Hoops’ closing fixtures.

Conor Spence

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