Brazil’s Fabio breaks England great's all-time matches record with 1,391st appearance

Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio etched his name into football history on Tuesday, claiming the record for the most competitive appearances in men’s football. The 44-year-old veteran reached an astonishing 1,391 matches, surpassing the mark previously held by England great Peter Shilton.

According to BBC, the Guinness Book of Records lists Shilton as holding the benchmark with 1,390 competitive appearances, though Shilton himself maintains that his tally stands at 1,387 matches - three fewer than the official count.

Fabio had drawn level with Shilton’s tally over the weekend, but his appearance in Fluminense’s 2-0 Copa Libertadores victory against Colombia’s America de Cali at the Maracana moved him into uncharted territory.


While Fluminense and Brazilian media outlets were quick to celebrate the milestone, neither FIFA nor regional governing body CONMEBOL has officially recognised it as a record.


Having turned professional in the late 1990s, the 'keeper has represented several clubs during his career, most notably Cruzeiro, where he spent nearly two decades and won multiple national and continental titles. Since joining Fluminense in 2022, he has continued to deliver at the highest level, proving age is just a number.

Fabio began his professional career in 1997 and has spent his entire playing journey in Brazil, representing Uniao Bandeirante, Atletico Paranaense, Vasco da Gama, Cruzeiro, and most recently Fluminense.

The veteran goalkeeper enjoyed his longest and most decorated spell at Cruzeiro, where he featured in an incredible 976 matches between 2005 and 2022. Before that, he registered 150 appearances for Vasco da Gama and 30 for Uniao Bandeirante, the club where it all started.


On Tuesday, Fabio’s record-breaking appearance marked his 235th outing for Fluminense, further cementing his legacy as one of Brazilian football’s most enduring figures.