Oman today_ Fabio, the Brazilian goalkeeper, has become the record holder for the most professional football matches in the world. Previously, Peter Shilton of England held this title with 1,390 professional appearances, but Fabio matched him with his outstanding performance in Fluminense’s recent match against Fortaleza. The 44-year-old player needs just one more game to take the record solely into his hands.
Fluminense celebrated this achievement on the social media platform X with a short message: “1,390 times, legend.” Fabio also expressed his gratitude, saying, “I want to thank everyone who has been part of my journey.”
Depending on the method of record-keeping, Fabio may already be the absolute record holder, as Shilton himself listed 1,387 matches on his personal X account. In any case, with Fabio’s next game against América de Cali in the Copa Sudamericana, this record will undoubtedly be broken.
This record is likely to grow further, as Fabio recently extended his contract with Fluminense until December 2026.
Fabio, who has represented the Brazil national team 10 times, began his professional career in 1997—the same year Shilton retired from football. Throughout his career, he has won the Brazilian league three times, lifted the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense in 2023, and reached the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup with the team this past summer.
Fabio Becomes the Record Holder for the Most Professional Football Matches
