Araujo sets a record matching Neymar's

By participating in the game against Elche during the 11th round of La Liga 2025/26, Ronald Araujo has accumulated 186 matches played for Barcelona. This feat is on par with Neymar Jr, a legendary figure at the club.

In round 11 of La Liga 2025/26, Barcelona secured a 3-1 victory over Elche, thereby continuing to chase Real Madrid in the title race. Ronald Araujo delivered a solid performance in defense, earning a 7.2 rating on the statistical site FotMob.

The match between Barcelona and Elche not only marked an important win for the home team but also a memorable milestone in the career of center-back Ronald Araujo. With his 186th appearance for the club, the Uruguayan player officially matched Neymar Jr's number of games for Barcelona, thus entering the top 10 South American players with the most appearances in Barcelona's history.

This is a significant milestone for a player who has just turned 26. Since his debut with the first team, Araujo has continuously proven his value, evolving from a promising talent into a key pillar in the Catalan club's defense.

Araujo joined Barcelona B in 2018 before being promoted to the first team a year later. He made a memorable debut on October 6, 2019, against Sevilla, although unfortunately, the match ended with a red card just three minutes after he came on. It was a rocky start, but Araujo did not give up.

In the list of South American players with the most appearances for Barcelona, Lionel Messi remains the undisputed leader with 778 games, an almost untouchable figure. Behind him are compatriots and former teammates like Dani Alves (408 matches) and Javier Mascherano (334 matches). Araujo's inclusion in the top 10 alongside legends such as Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Luis Suárez, and Neymar shows that the Uruguayan defender is on the right path to cement his status in the club's history.

Among Uruguayan players who have worn the Barcelona jersey, Ronald Araujo currently ranks third in appearances. He is only behind two legends: Luis Suárez (283 matches) and Ramon Alberto Villaverde (224 matches). At 26, Araujo still has many peak years ahead, and surpassing his predecessors is only a matter of time.

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