Man City trio among eight overplayed Premier League stars for club and country
One 'absolute dream of a player' features among eight already flirting with the red zone with their nations as reliant on their 'main men' as much as their clubs… The 2026/27 season has barely got in to its stride but already some players might be forgiven for feeling the effects of their importance. Here are eight stars that - apparently - neither their club nor country can be without, listed in order of total minutes played… Ruben Dias (Manchester City and Portugal) - 990 minutes Jorge Jesus seems less arsed about Cristiano Ronaldo's presence but he clearly appreciates a solid defensive base since he used the same centre-back pairing and goalkeeper through every minute of his first four games in charge of Portugal as the reigning Nations League champions started the defence of their crown with four straight wins.
That has meant no rest for Ruben Dias, who has also played every minute for Manchester City in the Premier League and Champions League so far, plus another 90 in the Community Shield. Enzo Maresca may want to tread carefully with Dias since he has already spent two periods on the sidelines in 2026 with hamstring problems.
Butthe City boss also has bigger problems to consider right now. Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United and Wales) - 990 minutes The Leeds skipper hasn't rested for a single minute this season, having played in all seven of his club's Premier League and Carabao Cup games before going away with Wales and playing another full set of four matches with them.
Ampadu, though, seems to be benefitting from the momentum rather than feeling the strain. What an absolute dream of a player, said ex-Wales star Nathan Blake in his role as BBC Wales pundit following the 1-0 defeat to Denmark on Sunday.
Blake is right - certainly outside West Yorkshire, Ampadu is perhaps one of the Premier League's most underrated players. The only minutes the 26-year-old has missed in 2026 for Leeds were when he was suspended for one game at the very start of the year.
Daniel Farke just needs to hope he remains as robust as the season rolls on. Erling Haaland (Manchester City and Norway) - 930 minutes Stale Solbakken saw Haaland was knackered against Wales, prompting a 'heart-to-heart chat' between the coach and Norway's greatest goalscorer.
"He plays in pretty much every game for his club," said Solbakken. "He's in the group that's under the most pressure, precisely because he plays in every competition and is the 'main man'.
We went through the various options available to us," continued Solbakken, the conclusion apparently being that Haaland would carry on regardless despite having played in every minute possible in the Premier League, Champions League and Nations League this season. All of which led to Haaland getting to 67 minutes before asking to be taken off in the defeat to Portugal.
What prompted the limp was not clear but Enzo Maresca needs him to shake it off in time for Liverpool on Sunday.