Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio claims world record for most games
The 44-year-old on Saturday equalled the landmark held by former England stopper Peter Shilton and Fabio has now gone one better following a 2-0 win over Colombia's America de Cali at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
Fluminense and Brazilian media say Fabio now stands alone in football history, although neither FIFA nor regional body CONMEBOL has declared it a record.
'Sometimes we don't realize the importance of such a significant achievement as breaking this record, which has stood for many years,' Fabio, who has spent his entire career in Brazil, said following his clean sheet in the Copa Sudamericana last 16 second leg.
The home fans chanted, 'Fabio is the best goalkeeper in Brazil,' and he received a commemorative plaque to mark the achievement.
'No one plays so many matches without a level of professionalism like his,' said Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho.
'He'll undoubtedly continue to play for a long time.
'It will be difficult for another player to surpass his record.'
Fabio won the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense in 2023 and was part of the side that reached the semi-finals of the Club World Cup in the United States this summer.
He made 976 appearances for Cruzeiro between 2005 and 2022, after playing 30 times for Uniao Bandeirante and another 150 games for Vasco da Gama.
His record outing against America de Cali was his 235th match for Fluminense.
Fabio began his career in 1997, the year that Shilton retired.
The Englishman considers his total number of appearances to be 1,387, but Guinness World Records puts the number at 1,390. - AFP
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The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Fluminense keeper Fabio surpasses Shilton's record with 1,391st competitive appearance
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Fluminense Training - Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey, U.S. - July 7, 2025 Fluminense's Fabio during training REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo (Reuters) -Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio overtook Englishman Peter Shilton's longstanding record for the most competitive appearances in men's soccer, playing his 1,391st match during his side's 2-0 victory over America de Cali on Tuesday, his club said. The 44-year-old Brazilian has enjoyed a professional career spanning 28 years, with senior appearances for Uniao Bandeirante (30 matches), Vasco da Gama (150), Cruzeiro (976) and Fluminense (235). He made the switch from Cruzeiro to Fluminense in 2022 and has since won the Recopa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores one each, alongside two Taca Guanabara and two Campeonato Carioca titles. "I have every reason to thank God for allowing me to experience this special moment and achieve this tremendous milestone. It was very emotional to experience this, especially with my family by my side during the tributes," Fabio said in a statement posted by Fluminense. "It is a great satisfaction to achieve this record wearing the Fluminense jersey, which opened doors for me." Fluminense celebrated Fabio's record with a tribute at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro following their win over America in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana last 16 tie. "Now it's time to keep playing and striving for new achievements in every game," he added. Former England goalkeeper Shilton, who played between 1966 and 1997, was acknowledged as the record holder for the most competitive men's professional games, though the total is disputed. Guinness World Records and a number of statistics websites say the tally is 1,390 but Shilton himself, on his X feed, gives it as 1,387. The discrepancy comes from Guinness including 16 unofficial games that Shilton does not include, while he includes 13 games he played for England's Under-23s team that normally are not counted. (Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru;Editing by Christian Radnedge)
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Goalkeeper Fabio claims world record for most games
Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio on Tuesday claimed the record for most competitive appearances in men's football when the Brazilian played for a 1,391st time. The 44-year-old on Saturday equalled the landmark held by former England stopper Peter Shilton and Fabio has now gone one better following a 2-0 win over Colombia's America de Cali at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. Fluminense and Brazilian media say Fabio now stands alone in football history, although neither FIFA nor regional body CONMEBOL has declared it a record. 'Sometimes we don't realize the importance of such a significant achievement as breaking this record, which has stood for many years,' Fabio, who has spent his entire career in Brazil, said following his clean sheet in the Copa Sudamericana last 16 second leg. The home fans chanted, 'Fabio is the best goalkeeper in Brazil,' and he received a commemorative plaque to mark the achievement. 'No one plays so many matches without a level of professionalism like his,' said Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho. 'He'll undoubtedly continue to play for a long time. 'It will be difficult for another player to surpass his record.' Fabio won the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense in 2023 and was part of the side that reached the semi-finals of the Club World Cup in the United States this summer. He made 976 appearances for Cruzeiro between 2005 and 2022, after playing 30 times for Uniao Bandeirante and another 150 games for Vasco da Gama. His record outing against America de Cali was his 235th match for Fluminense. Fabio began his career in 1997, the year that Shilton retired. The Englishman considers his total number of appearances to be 1,387, but Guinness World Records puts the number at 1,390. - AFP
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio claims world record for most games
Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio on Tuesday claimed the record for most competitive appearances in men's football when the Brazilian played for a 1,391st time. The 44-year-old on Saturday equalled the landmark held by former England stopper Peter Shilton and Fabio has now gone one better following a 2-0 win over Colombia's America de Cali at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. Fluminense and Brazilian media say Fabio now stands alone in football history, although neither FIFA nor regional body CONMEBOL has declared it a record. 'Sometimes we don't realize the importance of such a significant achievement as breaking this record, which has stood for many years,' Fabio, who has spent his entire career in Brazil, said following his clean sheet in the Copa Sudamericana last 16 second leg. The home fans chanted, 'Fabio is the best goalkeeper in Brazil,' and he received a commemorative plaque to mark the achievement. 'No one plays so many matches without a level of professionalism like his,' said Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho. 'He'll undoubtedly continue to play for a long time. 'It will be difficult for another player to surpass his record.' Fabio won the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense in 2023 and was part of the side that reached the semi-finals of the Club World Cup in the United States this summer. He made 976 appearances for Cruzeiro between 2005 and 2022, after playing 30 times for Uniao Bandeirante and another 150 games for Vasco da Gama. His record outing against America de Cali was his 235th match for Fluminense. Fabio began his career in 1997, the year that Shilton retired. The Englishman considers his total number of appearances to be 1,387, but Guinness World Records puts the number at 1,390. - AFP
