Soccer, or football as it’s known around the world, is a sport full of amazing records. Some players are remembered for scoring a lot of goals, others for winning championships, and some for simply lasting a very long time in the game. One of the hardest records to break is the number of games played in a professional career. That’s because to set a huge number, a player not only has to be good, but also stay healthy, motivated, and consistent for decades.
On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the world of soccer saw history being made. Brazilian goalkeeper Fábio, who currently plays for Fluminense, tied the legendary Peter Shilton’s all-time record for the most competitive appearances in men’s football. Fábio walked out onto the pitch for the 1,390th time in his career when Fluminense beat Fortaleza 2-1 in Brazil’s Serie A.
This number might look simple at first, but when you think about it, it’s absolutely incredible. Imagine playing almost 1,400 competitive soccer matches at the professional level, against some of the best players in the world, year after year, for nearly three decades. Most players retire long before reaching even half of that.
Fábio’s Long Journey
Fábio, who is now 44 years old, has been playing professional soccer for 28 years. That’s longer than many young fans have been alive. Over those years, he has worn the jersey of several clubs:
União Bandeirante: 30 matches
Vasco da Gama: 150 matches
Cruzeiro: 976 matches
Fluminense: 234 matches (and counting)
The majority of his career was spent at Cruzeiro, where he became a club legend. Later, he joined Fluminense, one of Brazil’s biggest and most historic teams, where he continues to be the first-choice goalkeeper even in his mid-40s.
Fluminense
Goalkeepers and Longevity
One interesting fact about soccer is that goalkeepers often have longer careers than outfield players. That’s because while strikers and midfielders have to run constantly, cover a lot of distance, and deal with tough tackles, goalkeepers mostly stay inside their penalty area. Of course, being a goalkeeper is not easy either. They need strong reflexes, sharp concentration, bravery, and leadership. But because the physical demands are slightly different, many goalkeepers play well into their 40s.
For example:
Gianluigi Buffon, the Italian legend, retired in 2023 at age 45.
Rogerio Ceni, another Brazilian goalkeeper, famously played until he was 42 and scored over 130 career goals, which is crazy for a goalkeeper.
Now Fábio is showing that age is just a number by competing at the highest level at 44.
- Fluminense
Breaking Shilton’s Record
Before Fábio, the record belonged to Peter Shilton, an English goalkeeper who played between 1966 and 1997. Shilton is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in history. He represented England 125 times at international level and is remembered for playing in several World Cups.
By the end of his career, Shilton had played 1,390 competitive matches, though there has been a little debate about the exact number. Some organizations, like Guinness World Records, count certain matches that Shilton himself doesn’t include. According to Guinness, he played 1,390 games, but Shilton says the real number is 1,387 because he doesn’t count 16 unofficial matches and instead includes 13 games he played for England’s Under-23 team.
Either way, whether it’s 1,387 or 1,390, the record stood for almost three decades—until now.
Fluminense
Fábio’s Reaction
After matching Shilton’s record, Fábio gave credit to his faith and the people who supported him throughout his career. He said:
“God gave me this gift. I have to thank everyone who has been part of my life—my family, my wife, my teammates. The important thing is to help my team. Without God, nothing would be possible.”
It’s clear that Fábio doesn’t see this achievement as only about himself. He views it as the result of teamwork, family support, and determination.
Fluminense
What’s Next?
Fábio isn’t done yet. In fact, he could break the record just a few days later. On Tuesday, Fluminense will face América de Cali from Colombia in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16. If Fábio starts that game, he will officially become the all-time leader in appearances in men’s professional soccer, moving past Shilton.
And considering that Fábio is still Fluminense’s number one goalkeeper, it looks like he will continue adding to that record for months, or even years, to come.
Fluminense
Why This Record Matters
You might wonder: why is this record so special? After all, soccer has many famous records, like most goals scored or most trophies won. But the appearances record shows something deeper: consistency, resilience, and love for the game.
Playing nearly 1,400 matches means Fábio has trained almost every single day for almost three decades.
It means he has avoided major injuries that could have ended his career earlier.
It shows his managers and coaches have trusted him enough to keep playing him as a starter.
And most importantly, it shows his passion for soccer never faded.
Many talented players fade away after a few years. But legends like Fábio and Shilton prove that discipline and determination can carry a career to unimaginable heights.
Fun Soccer Facts
To put Fábio’s record into perspective, here are some fun soccer facts:
Cristiano Ronaldo has played over 1,250 games (as of 2025), but even he is still behind Fábio.
The average professional soccer player retires around age 35, which is almost 10 years younger than Fábio’s current age.
In the history of soccer, only a handful of players have ever played more than 1,000 matches. Fábio has gone almost 400 beyond that.
If Fábio keeps playing for another two years, he could reach 1,500 games, setting a record that might never be broken.
Shilton’s career lasted 31 years, but Fábio is closing in on that with 28 years already under his belt.
Legacy of Two Legends
In the end, whether it’s Shilton with his 1,390 games or Fábio now tying and soon surpassing him, both men will be remembered as legends of soccer. Shilton even said back in 2023 that he would be the first to congratulate Fábio if he broke the record. That shows respect between generations of goalkeepers.
Soccer is a sport that brings together people from all over the world, and records like this remind us that greatness comes not only from scoring goals but also from dedication, persistence, and love for the game.
So next time you watch Fluminense play, remember you’re not just seeing another soccer match—you’re witnessing history every time Fábio steps onto the field.
Fluminense