Brazilian goalkeeper Fábio has set a new benchmark in professional football after making his 1,391st official appearance, the highest by any male player in the history of the sport.

The 44-year-old Fluminense player achieved the milestone on Tuesday, August 19, during his club’s 2-0 win against América de Cali in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 at the Maracanã Stadium.

Fábio surpassed the long-standing record held by former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who retired in 1997 with 1,387 appearances by his count or 1,390 according to Guinness World Records. The Brazilian had equalled Shilton’s tally last Saturday before moving past it in the continental fixture.
“Sometimes we don’t realise the importance of such a significant achievement as breaking this record, which has stood for many years,” Fábio said after the match.

He was presented with a commemorative plaque by Fluminense officials while supporters in the stands applauded his achievement.

Head coach Renato Gaúcho commended the veteran’s professionalism, saying, “No one plays so many matches without a level of professionalism like his. He’ll undoubtedly continue to play for a long time. It will be difficult for another player to surpass his record.”

Fábio’s playing career, which began in 1997, has been spent entirely in Brazil. His club record includes 976 appearances for Cruzeiro (2005–2022), 150 for Vasco da Gama, 30 for União Bandeirante, and 235 for Fluminense.

In recent years, Fábio helped Fluminense to the 2023 Copa Libertadores title and featured in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2024 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

While FIFA and CONMEBOL have not yet issued formal recognition of the record, Fluminense and Brazilian media outlets have declared the milestone historic in the global game.