Before 2017-18, Marek Hamšík had the most touches in Europe's top five leagues, with 8,986 touches in Serie A.

most touches by a player soccer history before 2018

	NAME	TCH	M	MIN	START	G	G/M	A	G+A	PK	FK	SH	SOT	WOOD	TCH-BOX	OFF
1	Marek Hamšík M. Hamšík	8,986	111	8,615	103	25	0.23	32	57	1	0	252	99	3	95	9
2	Thiago Motta T. Motta	8,882	89	6,630	76	0	0.00	4	4	0	0	29	5	2	14	0
3	Koke	8,570	105	9,027	103	11	0.10	30	41	0	0	113	33	9	37	7
4	Cesc Fàbregas C. Fàbregas	8,446	100	7,114	79	13	0.13	34	47	2	1	114	45	3	40	5
5	Jorginho	8,380	85	6,342	73	0	0.00	7	7	0	0	37	9	1	3	1
6	Elseid Hysaj E. Hysaj	8,353	108	9,339	104	0	0.00	5	5	0	0	27	7	0	29	16
7	Granit Xhaka G. Xhaka	8,298	90	7,486	86	7	0.08	5	12	1	1	128	39	1	13	5
8	Toni Kroos T. Kroos	8,286	97	8,309	96	6	0.06	28	34	0	0	87	24	4	24	3
9	Lionel Messi L. Messi	8,227	105	8,935	100	106	1.01	41	147	14	8	524	246	23	247	37
10	Christian Eriksen C. Eriksen	8,083	109	9,249	106	24	0.22	29	53	0	5	330	113	13	106	2
11	Xabi Alonso X. Alonso	8,049	79	5,823	69	5	0.06	7	12	0	2	59	19	3	6	0
12	Marco Verratti M. Verratti	8,034	78	5,674	64	5	0.06	15	20	0	0	27	11	0	32	2
13	Sergio Busquets S. Busquets	7,923	101	8,095	96	1	0.01	9	10	0	0	17	4	0	5	4
14	Dani Parejo D. Parejo	7,779	103	8,858	99	25	0.24	18	43	8	7	150	67	8	48	6
15	César Azpilicueta C. Azpilicueta	7,764	104	9,105	103	3	0.03	10	13	0	0	35	14	0	25	3
16	Neymar	7,675	97	8,281	93	59	0.61	26	85	7	3	324	148	16	296	61
17	Ryad Boudebouz R. Boudebouz	7,674	105	9,001	102	18	0.17	19	37	7	2	150	44	8	73	6
18	Idrissa Gana Guèye I. Gana Guèye	7,621	100	8,495	97	5	0.05	4	9	0	0	90	25	1	25	2
19	Corentin Tolisso C. Tolisso	7,597	102	8,474	94	20	0.20	10	30	0	0	178	56	6	72	6
20	Miralem Pjanić M. Pjanić	7,566	97	7,351	83	20	0.21	30	50	1	8	164	70	9	56	6
21	Nathaniel Clyne N. Clyne	7,556	105	9,441	105	3	0.03	2	5	0	0	74	16	1	57	2
22	Eden Hazard E. Hazard	7,541	105	8,577	99	34	0.32	16	50	5	0	191	80	3	220	22
23	Gabi	7,531	103	8,386	99	1	0.01	7	8	0	0	58	12	1	3	1
24	Marcelo	7,487	94	7,682	87	6	0.06	20	26	0	0	69	16	1	57	9
25	Mesut Özil M. Özil	7,470	90	7,757	88	18	0.20	31	49	0	1	116	51	5	145	44