- Fabio breaks Shilton’s appearance record
- Debate remains over Shilton’s official match tally
- Brazilian keeper nearing 1,400 official appearances
Shilton, who enjoyed a stellar career spanning between 1966 and 1997, has long been credited with holding the all-time appearance record, but his exact total remains a subject of much debate. He lists 1,387 matches in the biography section of his X account. Guinness World Records, however, recognises 1,390. A separate calculation of his senior club and England national team outings comes to 1,374, with higher counts possibly including appearances for England Under-23s and various regional cup competitions.
What’s clear, though, is that Fabio’s relentless consistency since starting his career back in 1998 has propelled him into history’s top tier, regardless of disputed tallies. Fluminense officials presented Fabio with a commemorative plate and a bespoke painting, while he played the match against America de Cali donning a shirt adorned with a special patch marking his milestone.
“I have nothing but reasons to thank God, who allowed me to experience this special moment, to reach this gigantic milestone,” Fabio said.
“It was incredibly moving to experience it, especially having my family by my side during the tributes. It’s a huge satisfaction to reach this record wearing the Fluminense jersey, which opened doors for me. Now it’s time to keep playing and strive for new achievements with each game.”
Fabio’s entire career has been forged in Brazil. He began his professional journey with Uniao Bandeirante (30 games) before moving to Vasco da Gama (150 games). His most successful spell came at Cruzeiro, where he amassed a staggering 976 matches, cementing himself as one of the club’s most iconic figures. Since joining Fluminense, he has added another 235 appearances, becoming a cornerstone for the Rio de Janeiro giants. Remarkably, despite his domestic dominance, Fabio has never played for the Brazilian national team.
At 44, Fabio has become football’s iron man, a symbol of endurance in a sport. He featured in six matches at this summer’s Club World Cup, helping Fluminense to the semi-finals before falling to eventual champions Chelsea. His presence between the sticks is still trusted on the continental stage, underlining both his resilience and enduring quality.
