Dan Nistor, 500 matches in the Superliga! Only one footballer surpasses him in the entire history of Romanian football
Article by Andrei Crăiţoiu, Liviu Manolache – Published Saturday, February 14, 2026, 7:06 p.m. / Updated Saturday, February 14, 2026, 7:07 p.m.
The match University of Cluj – Csikszereda it meant a historic moment for Dan Nistor. The 37-year-old midfielder was used as a starter by Cristiano Bergodi and ticked off his 500th match in the Super League!
Dan Nistor entered the history of Romanian football, being the second all-time player to play 500 matches in the Super League. After Ionel Danciulescu (515 games).
Dan Nistor: 500 matches in the first league in Romania
The current team from Cluj debuted almost 16 years ago, on July 23, 2010, in Pandurii – Unirea Urziceni 0-0, with Ionuț Badea as coach.
In addition to Pandurii Tg. Jiu and Cluj University, Nistor also played for Dinamo, CFR Cluj (champion in 2017-2018) and Craiova University.
In the previous 499 games, he scored 67 times and provided 102 assists.
Special moments before the match
Before Iulian Călin's starting whistle, Dan Nistor received a special T-shirt from Cluj.
The same thing was done by the officials from Miercurea Ciuc, through Eugen Pârvulescu, the president of the club, who discovered Nistor at a tournament and transferred him from Curtea de Argeș to Pandurii.
Even the officials of the Professional Football League marked the moment. A special plaque provided by the match observer, Marin Barbu, all in gratitude for the incredible performance ticked off by Dan Nistor today.
We must all admit that reaching this extraordinary professional milestone is not within everyone's reach, that behind it are truly impressive efforts, years of physical training at the highest level, champion ambition and many other qualities. Dan Nistor deserves the respect and applause of Romanian football fans, not only those of the “red caps” supporters, and I am absolutely convinced that they will come from the heart! 500 matches, only in the first league!
Justin Ștefan, general secretary LPF
