As one of the pioneers of English football when it came to recruiting foreign stars in the 1990s, Chelsea have long provided a wide spread of players to their national teams.

Plenty represented their countries with distinction, winning silverware and individual awards. Here we count down the top ten men’s players when it comes to caps earned while a Blue…

Thibaut Courtois

Belgium | 2011-2018
65 caps

After spending his first three years as a Chelsea player on loan at Atletico Madrid, Courtois arrived in west London after the 2014 World Cup as Belgium's established number one. He retained the role throughout his time at the Bridge.

His crowning international moment as a Blue came at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Courtois was sensational throughout the tournament, notably against Brazil in the quarter-finals, as Belgium claimed an historic bronze medal. He won the Golden Glove award as the tournament's best goalkeeper before departing for Real Madrid.

Willian

Brazil | 2013-2020
68 caps, 9 goals

Willian was a staple of the Selecao squad throughout his trophy-laden seven-year stay at Stamford Bridge. The attacker represented Brazil at both the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, as well as at multiple Copa Americas.

His finest hour in yellow came during the 2019 Copa America on home soil. Willian was called up as a late replacement for the injured Neymar and played his part – including scoring a great goal against Peru in the group stage - as Brazil lifted the trophy for the first time in 12 years.

John Mikel Obi

Nigeria | 2006-2017
73 caps, 4 goals

John Mikel Obi enjoyed a fine international career, earning 73 of his 89 caps while a Chelsea player. Though mostly used in a defensive role at Stamford Bridge, Mikel was often deployed in an attacking midfield role when representing the Super Eagles.

His crowning glory in green came in 2013 when Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations, with Mikel a constant presence on the pitch. Later that year, he finished runner-up in the African Footballer of the Year award, and in 2016 he captained Nigeria to a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics having been selected as an overage player.

Marcel Desailly

France | 1998-2004
74 caps, 2 goals

‘The Rock’ signed for Chelsea in the summer of 1998, shortly before he helped France win the World Cup for the first time. During his six years at Stamford Bridge, Desailly remained a cornerstone of one of the great international teams.

He started every game as Les Bleus won Euro 2000 to hold the world and European titles simultaneously. Following the retirement of Didier Deschamps – once his Chelsea team-mate, too – Desailly was named France captain.

Didier Drogba

Ivory Coast | 2004-2012 and 2014/2015
74 caps, 46 goals

The ultimate big-game player for Chelsea was equally talismanic for the Elephants. Didier Drogba scored 46 of his 65 international goals while a Chelsea player, comfortably the highest figure of anyone in our history.

He led his country to their maiden World Cup appearance in 2006, and scored their first ever goal at the tournament against Argentina. He also netted against Brazil four years later, while on the continental scene his appearances in the 2006 and 2012 AFCON finals ended in penalty shoot-out heartbreak.

Eden Hazard

Belgium | 2012-2019
74 caps, 25 goals

Eden Hazard was one of the stars of Belgium’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’, and he featured in three major tournaments during his time at Chelsea.

Like Courtois, his international peak arrived at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He captained the Red Devils to a third-place finish, with three goals and two assists along the way, and won the Silver Ball award as the second-best player at the tournament.

John Terry

England | 2003-2012
78 caps, 6 goals

All of John Terry’s 78 England caps were earned as a Chelsea player. He captained the Three Lions for several years and featured at two European Championships and two World Cups.

He was named in the World Cup Team of the Tournament in 2006 after a string of impressive displays, although tangible collective success eluded Terry and his English team-mates at international level.

Branislav Ivanovic

Serbia | 2008-2017
83 caps, 11 goals

Branislav Ivanovic’s rugged defensive reliability made him indispensable for Serbia as well as Chelsea. Splitting time between right-back and centre-back, he was a pillar of the Serbian national team throughout his nine years at the Bridge.

At the 2010 World Cup, Ivanovic helped Serbia stun eventual semi-finalists Germany in a 1-0 group stage win. He was made Serbia captain in 2012, and retired from international football as his country’s all-time appearance maker (105). He is now third in that list.

Petr Cech

Czech Republic | 2004-2015
91 caps

Petr Cech is the Chelsea player to have won the most international caps in his career, 124, with 91 of those accrued during his tremendous Blues career.

He arrived at the Bridge fresh from excelling at Euro 2004 and went on to feature at three more major tournaments while with us, including the 2006 World Cup. He captained his country on numerous occasions and was named the Czech Footballer of the Year a record nine times.

Frank Lampard

England | 2001-2014
104 caps, 29 goals

Our all-time top goalscorer also leads the way when it comes to international games played as a Blue. Only Frank Lampard’s first two senior England appearances were not earned while at Chelsea.

Lampard played in four major tournaments while on our books, most notably at Euro 2004 when he scored three goals and was named in the Best XI. It is perhaps a goal he did not score – despite the ball clearly crossing the line – that his international career is best remembered for. What should have been a brilliant equaliser against Germany at the 2010 World Cup was not given, prompting the introduction of goal-line technology we are all so accustomed to now.