Natan Bernardo de Souza has become the fastest player to reach 100 appearances for Real Betis Balompié, hitting the century mark in just 743 days. The Brazilian defender broke the record previously held by Alfonso Pérez, who took 781 days, and was honoured with a commemorative plaque before the win over Getafe.
The milestone came just before the match on the sixth matchday, which Betis won 1-0 to stay third in the table with 15 points. Natan made his debut for the Verdiblancos on 22 August 2024, in a Conference League qualifying phase match against Krybas, and has been a fixture in Manuel Pellegrini's line-ups ever since.
His consistency has been key. In his first season he missed only one game through suspension after being sent off at El Sadar. In the 2025-26 campaign he was absent for two matches due to accumulated cards and another due to discomfort during the warm-up at Anoeta. The player attributes part of his availability to methodical work beyond the club's guidelines. "He works with a personal fitness trainer to prevent injuries," Natan explained about his routine.
The Brazilian described his approach as that of "a very methodological person who goes beyond the guidelines established by the club". This dedication has made him a defensive pillar for a team sitting three points off the top. The team reaches this milestone in the midst of a four-game winning streak in the league, averaging 2.5 goals for and 0.75 goals against per game during this run. The team's full schedule can be checked on our fixtures page.
Behind Natan and Alfonso Pérez, third place belongs to Diego Rodríguez, who needed 798 days. They are closely followed by Abde (803 days) and Fornals (810). In the full squad, eight players have surpassed a hundred appearances: Bartra (226), Aitor (217), Abde (131), Lo Celso (112), Bellerín (111), Fornals (110), Ceballos (107) and Natan himself, who now has 103.
Marc Roca is on the brink with 99 appearances and could reach the figure in the next match at Riazor. Isco has 85 and Antony 79; the latter would need to play 21 matches in the coming months to try and beat Natan's record, having played for 594 days since his debut.
The tribute ceremony took place at the Estadio de la Cartuja in front of over 57,000 spectators, with president Ángel Haro in attendance. The moment arrived during a positive run for the team, which is on a four-game winning streak in the league, including a 2-1 victory at Villarreal where Natan himself scored. The Seville-based side now faces its next challenge against Deportivo La Coruna, seventh in the table, with the confirmed absences of Aitor Ruibal and Diego Llorente, whose status is detailed in the injuries section. The full squad and their statistics are available at squad.
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