Key Takeaways:
- Fábio became the footballer with the most official matches in history last night, with 1,391 career appearances
- Fluminense defeated América de Cali 2-0 to secure a place in the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals
- The 44-year-old goalkeeper’s contract with Fluminense runs until December 2026
Historic Milestone for the Veteran Shot Stopper
Fábio, the seasoned Brazilian goalkeeper, made history last night by featuring in his 1,391st official football match, surpassing Peter Shilton’s long-standing record. The momentous occasion took place as he started for Fluminense in their Copa Sudamericana clash against América de Cali.
FÁBIO É O ATLETA COM MAIS JOGOS NA HISTÓRIA DO ESPORTE! 😱🥇 Com a titularidade contra o America de Cali, nenhum outro jogador fez mais jogos oficiais que o goleiro do Fluminense. QUE RECORDE! #Libertadores2025 #FutebolBrasileiro pic.twitter.com/GNnCOnEoj3
— TNT Sports BR (@TNTSportsBR) August 20, 2025
Shilton Overtaken in All-Time Appearance Chart
At 44 years of age, Fábio now stands alone atop the list of footballers with the most official matches played, having eclipsed the previous record of 1,390 set by English icon Peter Shilton. The updated ranking of appearances is as follows:
| Player | Appearances |
|---|---|
| Fábio | 1,391 |
| Peter Shilton | 1,390 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 1,283 |
| Rogério Ceni | 1,265 |
| František Plánička | 1,187 |
Key Victory Secures Quarter-Final Berth
Fluminense marked the record-setting evening with a 2-0 victory over América de Cali. As a result, the club advanced to the quarter-final stage of the Copa Sudamericana, where they will next play either Lanús or Central Córdoba.
Fábio’s Club Career and Achievements
The goalkeeper’s journey began with União Bandeirante in 1997 and, since then, he has amassed appearances across four Brazilian clubs: União Bandeirante: 30 matches; Vasco da Gama: 150 matches; Cruzeiro: 976 matches; Fluminense: 235 matches
Having joined Fluminense in 2022, Fábio captured the Brazilian championship in both 2022 and 2023, claimed the Copa Libertadores in 2023, and won the Recopa Sudamericana in 2024. He is contracted with the Rio de Janeiro club through to December 2026.
