Football
Adriana Garcia 7y

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo plays fewer minutes than Barca trio - report

The Real Madrid rotation policy that has seen Cristiano Ronaldo rested for spells this season means he has played fewer minutes than Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, AS newspaper has said.

Portugal captain Ronaldo, who missed just two league games for Real last season, has played 3,022 minutes in 34 games in all competitions. He has started 22 of 27 La Liga games.

AS reported that 32-year-old Ronaldo has played less than each member of Barcelona's attacking trio.

Messi, runner-up to Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or in December, has played 3,399 minutes for Barca, followed by Suarez with 3,349 and Neymar with 3,096.

Atletico Madrid's French striker Antoine Griezmann has played 429 minutes more than Ronaldo -- a total of 3,451.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said earlier this year that Ronaldo wanted to play in every game but accepted the rotation policy.

Outside La Liga, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has played the most minutes this season -- 3,511 -- of the top European stars analysed by AS.

Teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played 3,480 minutes of a campaign that has seen him amass 26 goals so far.

Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain has played 3,117 minutes, while Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski as completed 3,141 minutes.

Meanwhile, Madeira airport will be renamed Cristiano Ronaldo Airport from Wednesday, despite opposition from local politicians.

The Portugal captain is expected to attend a ceremony at the airport outside his hometown of Funchal on Wednesday, a day after his country plays Sweden in a friendly in the city.

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