History was made at the Maracana on Tuesday night as Fluminense’s veteran goalkeeper Fabio broke England icon Peter Shilton's record for the most competitive appearances in world football. The 44-year-old Brazilian reached an astonishing 1,391 official matches when he lined up against America de Cali in the Copa Sudamericana, helping his side to a 2-0 win that only added to the occasion’s magic.
Fabio breaks Shilton’s appearance recordDebate remains over Shilton’s official match tallyBrazilian keeper nearing 1,400 official appearancesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Shilton, who enjoyed a stellar career spanning between 1966 and 1997, has long been credited with holding the all-time appearance record, but his exact total remains a subject of much debate. He lists 1,387 matches in the biography section of his X account. Guinness World Records, however, recognises 1,390. A separate calculation of his senior club and England national team outings comes to 1,374, with higher counts possibly including appearances for England Under-23s and various regional cup competitions.
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What’s clear, though, is that Fabio’s relentless consistency since starting his career back in 1998 has propelled him into history’s top tier, regardless of disputed tallies. Fluminense officials presented Fabio with a commemorative plate and a bespoke painting, while he played the match against America de Cali donning a shirt adorned with a special patch marking his milestone.
WHAT FABIO SAID
“I have nothing but reasons to thank God, who allowed me to experience this special moment, to reach this gigantic milestone,” Fabio said.
“It was incredibly moving to experience it, especially having my family by my side during the tributes. It’s a huge satisfaction to reach this record wearing the Fluminense jersey, which opened doors for me. Now it’s time to keep playing and strive for new achievements with each game.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Fabio’s entire career has been forged in Brazil. He began his professional journey with Uniao Bandeirante (30 games) before moving to Vasco da Gama (150 games). His most successful spell came at Cruzeiro, where he amassed a staggering 976 matches, cementing himself as one of the club’s most iconic figures. Since joining Fluminense, he has added another 235 appearances, becoming a cornerstone for the Rio de Janeiro giants. Remarkably, despite his domestic dominance, Fabio has never played for the Brazilian national team.