Who are Palace’s top ten major tournament internationals?

First-team

9 Jul 2026

It’s been a proud summer for the Eagles – with more Palace internationals at the World Cup Finals than ever before.

And as we head towards the quarter-final stage, six of our players remain standing in the competition.

But ahead of the last eight – which Palace players now lead the way when it comes to appearances in major tournaments while with the club?

Here are the top ten as we approach the final stages of the 2026 World Cup Finals.

10. Joachim Andersen (2021-24) 7 appearances, Denmark

The Danish defender joined the Eagles just a few weeks after helping Denmark to the semi-finals of Euro 2020, played in the summer of 2021.

The following year he was back in the national squad heading to the World Cup finals in Qatar. Andersen played every minute of all three group games as Denmark, although they failed to qualify for the knockout stage, picking up just one point against Tunisia.

Andersen then played all four games for his country at Euro 2024. This included a meeting with England which saw him come up against his, at the time, centre-back partner Marc Guéhi.

9. Mile Jedinak (2011-16) 7 appearances, Australia

Jedinak famously became the first active Palace player to score at a World Cup Finals in 2014, as Australia lost out in a five-goal thriller to the Netherlands, arguably one of the games of the tournament.

Jedinak then enjoyed the highlight of his international career the following summer, while still with Palace, lifting the AFC Asia Cup as captain.

8. Ismaïla Sarr (2024-present) 9 appearances, Senegal

Sarr’s superb recent exploits at the World Cup finals have seen him climb into the top ten.

The forward has also represented his country at the African Cup of Nations during his time with the Eagles. Sarr has four goals at major tournaments while with Palace – the joint-most on this list.

Full a full breakdown of the remarkable numbers from Sarr’s season head here.

=6. Daniel Muñoz (2024-present) 10 appearances, Colombia

With a goalscoring record of 40% at major tournaments, Muñoz has consistently found the net on the biggest stage.

His first major tournament whilst a Palace player saw him help Colombia reach the final of the Copa America, only to be suspended for an eventual defeat to Argentina.

Muñoz started the World Cup with goals in back-to-back group games and played 393 minutes as his side reached the last 16.

=6. Jefferson Lerma (2023-present) 10 appearances, Colombia

Like Muñoz, Lerma has been a consistent performer in the Colombia team over the last three years.

During the aforementioned Colombian run to the 2024 Copa America final, Lerma scored twice, netting against both Paraguay and Uruguay.

Lerma started every Colombia game at the 2026 World Cup Finals until their eventual penalty shootout defeat to Switzerland in the Round of 16. At the end of that tie, Lerma held the record for the most amount of minutes on the pitch at World Cup for a Palace player, with 410.

5. Wilfried Zaha (2010-2023) 11 appearances, Ivory Coast

Originally representing England, playing at various youth levels and playing a friendly game for the Three Lions, Zaha switched his football allegiance to Ivory Coast in late 2016.

He would go on to play in both the 2017, 2019 and 2021 African Cup of Nations during his legendary spell with the Eagles.

His best run would be to the quarter-finals in 2019, where Zaha and his teammates were defeated on penalties by eventual winners Algeria.

4. Adrian Mariappa (2013-16) 12 appearances, Jamaica

Former Palace defender Mariappa represented Jamaica in three tournaments during his time in South London.

He completed every minute of their campaign at the 2015 Copa America, where they failed to get out of the group.

More successfully Mariappa also played every single minute of their run to the final at the 2015 Gold Cup. Jamaica were defeated 3-1 by Mexico in the final.

In total he won 73 caps for his country over the course of an 11-year period.

=2. Jordan Ayew (2018-24) 13 appearances, Ghana

Ayew had already featured in a World Cup when he signed for Palace – playing for Ghana in 2014 – but he did so again when the Black Stars reached the finals in Qatar in 2022.

In the toughest of groups, alongside Portugal, South Korea and – with a chance at revenge – Uruguay, Ghana fell just short of qualifying for the knockout rounds.

He also played at three African Cup of Nations tournaments while with the Eagles, his best run during this time coming in the 2019 when they reached the Round of 16.

=2. Cheikhou Kouyaté (2018-22) 13 appearances, Senegal

Kouyaté’s main international success during his time with the Eagles came in 2021, when Senegal triumphed in the African Cup of Nations, dramatically defeating Egypt on penalties.

Two years earlier they had reached the final at the same tournament. This gives him one of the best major international records of any Palace player.

Kouyaté played 13 games at major tournaments while at Palace, winning eight.

1.Chris Richards (2022-present) 18 appearances, USA

Out in front by a clear margin following his exploits at this World Cup is Richards. The Palace defender made four appearances at the finals on home soil as the USMNT reached the Round of 16, before exiting to Belgium.

Richards has also picked up silverware on the international stage, twice winning the CONCACAF Nations League. The defender has also scored goals at major tournaments, netting twice in the 2025 Gold Cup as the Stars and Stripes reached the final.

His total minutes on the pitch for major tournament football now stands at an impressive 1,634.

With many thanks to The Palacetician (@SoCpfc on X and @glad-all-over on BlueSky).

Club
First-team

Related News

More News