Brazilian Goalkeeper Sets World Record for Most Competitive Matches

Brazilian goalkeeper Fábio Davidson Lopez has broken the record for the most competitive matches played in professional football, surpassing the legendary English player Peter Shilton.

Shilton’s record has long been cited as 1,387 or 1,390 matches, leaving Fábio just one match short—until last night (Tuesday), when he played his 1,391st match, officially setting a new world record.

The achievement was confirmed by Brazilian club Fluminense.

At 44 years old, Fábio played for Fluminense in a Copa Sudamericana match against América de Cali, which Fluminense won 2–0.

Fábio’s professional debut came in 1997, and over a 28-year career entirely in Brazil, he has played for five clubs, accumulating 1,391 matches.

Clubs Played For

Fábio spent his career at:

• Fluminense
• Cruzeiro
• Vasco da Gama
• Atlético Paranaense
• União Bandeirante

During his time at Cruzeiro, he played the most matches for a single club, with 976 appearances. His Fluminense appearance in the record-breaking game was his 235th match for the club.

According to Guinness World Records, English goalkeeper Peter Shilton held the record with 1,390 matches, although Shilton himself cited 1,387.

Fábio has never played for Brazil’s senior national team, though he represented Brazil at the Under-19 World Cup in 1997.

Shilton, now 75 years old, played 1,249 matches at club level and 125 matches for England, totalling 1,374 competitive games.

An English football website, External, notes that Shilton also played 13 matches for England’s Under-23 team, which, if included, brings his total to 1,387. Debate remains over whether these matches should count as senior appearances.

Fluminense, avoiding controversy, highlighted that Fábio’s record is based on 1,391 competitive matches.