Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio equalled Peter Shilton’s longstanding record for the most competitive appearances in men’s football history on Saturday, taking to the field for the 1,390th time in his team’s 2-1 Serie A victory over Fortaleza.
The 44-year-old veteran has enjoyed a professional career spanning 28 years, representing Unio Bandeirante (30 matches), Vasco da Gama (150), Cruzeiro (976) and Fluminense (234). The total, based on research conducted by Fluminense, has been corroborated by Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte.
“God gave me this gift,” Fabio told Globo when asked about reaching the milestone. “I have to thank everyone who has been part of my life – my father, mother, sisters, friends, my wife I try to be a good person. The important thing is to help my teammates. I am grateful, but without God nothing would be possible.”
Fbio’s remarkable longevity in the sport has seen him feature in a range of competitions and claim an impressive array of silverware. During his 16-year spell at Cruzeiro, he won two Brazilian Championships and two Copa do Brasil titles. Since joining Fluminense in 2022, he has added the Copa Libertadores and Recopa Sudamericana to his trophy cabinet.
The milestone puts Fabio level with England legend Peter Shilton, whose 1,390 competitive appearances are recorded by Guinness World Records and the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). Shilton, who played professionally from 1966 to 1997, acknowledged in 2023 that Fbio was approaching his record and promised to be the first to congratulate the Brazilian if he surpassed it.
According to available statistics, the five players with the most matches in football history are: Fabio and Shilton (1,390), Cristiano Ronaldo (1,283), Rogrio Ceni (1,265), and Frantisek Planicka (1,187). While Guinness and other sources list Shilton’s total as 1,390, the former England goalkeeper himself cites 1,387, the discrepancy arising from differing counts of unofficial and Under-23 fixtures.
TOP FIVE FOOTBALLERS WITH THE MOST CAREER APPEARANCES
Fabio / Peter Shilton: 1,390
Cristiano Ronaldo: 1,283
Rogrio Ceni: 1,265
Frantisek Planicka: 1,187
Fabio is expected to break Shilton’s record when Fluminense host Colombian side America de Cali in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 second leg on Tuesday. Given that he remains a regular starter for the club, it seems likely that the Brazilian goalkeeper’s tally will continue to rise, further cementing his status as one of the game’s most durable and accomplished figures.