Brazilian Goalkeeper Fábio Becomes the Most Capped Player in History
The man with the most professional football appearances is Fábio, the 44-year-old goalkeeper for Fluminense.
According to his club, Fluminense, the Brazilian shot-stopper has become the world’s record-holder for appearances. Fábio played his 1,391st match in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16—the South American equivalent of the Europa League—surpassing England’s legendary keeper Peter Shilton. In Fluminense’s 2-0 victory over América de Cali at Maracanã Stadium, Fábio celebrated the milestone with a clean sheet.
“It’s official: Fábio is now the player with the most matches in football history,” the Rio de Janeiro club posted on social media with the hashtag #Fabio1391. Fábio had recently matched Shilton’s record of 1,390 games, according to the Guinness World Records. However, Shilton himself claims on his X account to have played 1,387 competitive matches. Exact numbers for both players remain difficult to verify.
Fábio said he plans to enjoy the achievement but doesn’t want to overemphasize it. “The most important thing is helping my teammates,” he explained. The record is expected to grow further, as the goalkeeper is contracted with the Brazilian club until December 2026.
Fábio made his professional debut in 1997 and has spent his entire career in Brazil. Despite his longevity, he never earned a cap for the Brazilian national team.
