INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCES
With the latest round of international friendlies and the African Cup of Nations now completed, we take a look at our players' statistics for their national sides this season, and find that with a distance still to go, it has already been a busy few months.
Having returned from playing six games in three weeks in Ghana, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba lead the way, with 11 games apiece for their respective countries. Salomon Kalou, who was also in action there, is one behind with ten.
Of the European players, Joe Cole is out in front with eight appearances, having been an ever-present for England this campaign.
The Ivorian duo of Drogba and Kalou top the charts for international goals in 2007/8, with six each, including Kalou's goal for the under-23s in Olympic qualifying.
Despite his injury problems this season, Frank Lampard remains the highest cap earner while with the Blues. His tally stands at 58 since his arrival in the summer of 2001. With 24 since 2004, nobody has scored more goals at international level while a Chelsea player than Drogba.
International appearances this season at Full, B, Under 23s and Under 21s levels while with Chelsea
Drogba 11, Essien 11, Kalou 8+2 (including 1 for U23s), J Cole 8, Ben-Haim 7, Makelele 7, Mikel 6, Pizarro 6, Shevchenko 6, Wright-Phillips 5+2, Cech 5, Malouda 5, Ferreira 4+1, A Cole 4, Lampard 3+2, Sahar 3+1 (including 1 for U21s), Carvalho 3, Terry 3, Bridge 2+1, Alex 2, Anelka 1, Ballack 1, Diarra (France B) 1, Boulahrouz 0+2, Mancienne (England U21s) 0+2, Taylor (Wales U21s) 0+1.
International goals this season at Full, B, Under 23s and Under 21s levels while with Chelsea
Drogba 6 (1 pen), Kalou 6 (incl 1 for U23s), Shevchenko 3, Wright-Phillips 3, Essien 2, Lampard 2 (1 pen), Mikel 1, Sahar 1 (U21s).
Total international appearances of current players
Shevchenko (Ukraine) 79, Ballack (Germany) 78, Makelele (France) 65, Crespo (Argentina) 64, A Cole (England) 62, Lampard (England) 60, Cech (Czech Republic) 57, Pizarro (Peru) 56, Drogba (Ivory Coast) 55, J Cole (England) 48, Ferreira (Portugal) 45, Anelka (France) 44, Carvalho (Portugal) 42, Terry (England) 42, Ben-Haim (Israel) 40, Essien (Ghana) 36, Malouda (France) 35, Bridge (England) 28, Belletti (Brazil) 23, Boulahrouz (Holland) 21, Wright-Phillips (England) 19, Mikel (Nigeria) 14, Kalou (Ivory Coast) 13, Alex (Brazil) 12, Ivanovic (Serbia) 9, Sahar (Israel) 7, Younghusband (Philippines) 4.
Total international scorers of current players
Shevchenko (Ukraine) 36, Ballack (Germany) 35, Crespo (Argentina) 35, Drogba (Ivory Coast) 33, Lampard (England) 14, Pizarro (Peru) 13, Anelka (France) 11, J Cole (England) 7, Essien (Ghana) 7, Kalou (Ivory Coast) 7, Younghusband (Philippines) 6, Carvalho (Portugal) 4, Wright-Phillips (England) 4, Malouda (France) 3, Terry (England) 3, Mikel (Nigeria) 2, Sahar (Israel) 2, Belletti (Brazil) 1, Bridge (England) 1, Ivanovic (Serbia) 1.
Caps won while with Chelsea
Lampard (England) 58, Terry (England) 42, Makelele (France) 41, Drogba (Ivory Coast) 40, J Cole (England) 38, Cech (Czech Republic) 34, Carvalho (Portugal) 32, Ferreira (Portugal) 31, Crespo (Argentina) 26, Essien (Ghana) 25, Bridge (England) 16, Shevchenko (Ukraine) 16, Ballack (Germany) 15, Wright-Phillips (England) 15, Kalou (Ivory Coast) 13, A Cole (England) 10, Pizarro (Peru) 10, Mikel (Nigeria) 9, Ben-Haim (Israel) 7, Sahar (Israel) 7, Boulahrouz (Holland) 6, Malouda (France) 5, Younghusband (Philippines) 4, Alex (Brazil) 2, Anelka (France)1.
International scorers while with Chelsea
Drogba (Ivory Coast) 24, Crespo (Argentina) 16, Lampard (England) 14, Shevchenko (Ukraine) 8, Kalou (Ivory Coast) 7, J Cole (England) 6, Younghusband (Philippines) 6, Ballack (Germany) 5, Essien (Ghana) 5, Carvalho (Portugal) 4, Terry (England) 3, Wright-Phillips (England) 3, Pizarro (Peru) 2, Sahar (Israel) 2, Bridge (England) 1, Mikel (Nigeria) 1.
Top all-time international appearances
Caps won while with Chelsea Desailly (France) 74, Lampard (England) 58, Gallas (France) 48, Petrescu (Romania) 44, Terry (England) 42, Makelele (France) 41, Drogba (Ivory Coast) 40, J Cole (England) 38, Flo (Norway) 38, Gudjohnsen (Iceland) 36, Grønkjær (Denmark) 35, Cech (Czech Republic) 34, Forssell (Finland) 33, Carvalho (Portugal) 32, Leb?uf (France) 32, Ferreira (Portugal) 31, Gérémi (Cameroon) 28, Crespo (Argentina) 26, Essien (Ghana) 25, Wilkins (England) 24, Kharine (Russia) 23, McCreadie (Scotland) 23, Zenden (Holland) 23, Duff (Ireland) 22, Townsend (Ireland) 22, K Wilson (N Ireland) 22, Babayaro (Nigeria) 21, Wise (England) 21, Burley (Scotland) 20, Smertin (Russia) 20.
Top all-time international scorers
Goals scored while with Chelsea Drogba (Ivory Coast) 24, Crespo (Argentina) 16, Greaves (England) 16, Flo (Norway) 15, Gudjohnsen (Iceland) 15, Hilsdon (England) 14, Lampard (England) 14, Lawton (England) 14, Forssell (Finland) 12, Bentley (England) 9, Mutu (Romania) 9, Shevchenko (Ukraine) 8, Hasselbaink (Holland) 7, Kalou (Ivory Coast) 7, Petrescu (Romania) 7, Windridge (England) 7.
Statistics by Paul Dutton, correct to 12 February.
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INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS UPDATE
INTERNATIONAL STATISTIC UPDATE