Fabio sets new record, surpassing Peter Shilton as the 44-year-old Fluminense goalkeeper marked his 1,391st competitive appearance during a confident 2-0 win over America de Cali on Tuesday. By doing so, he officially moved ahead of Peter Shilton’s longstanding record for the most competitive men’s matches, capping a remarkable career that has already spanned 28 years.
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A Remarkable Career Across Four Clubs
Fabio began his senior career with Uniao Bandeirante, where he made 30 appearances before moving to Vasco da Gama, adding another 150 matches to his total. His legendary spell at Cruzeiro saw him make 976 appearances, winning major domestic and continental titles. In 2022, he joined Fluminense and has already played 235 matches for the club, helping them lift both the Recopa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores, along with regional trophies such as the Taca Guanabara and Campeonato Carioca.
Emotional Night at the Maracana
Speaking in a club statement, Fabio expressed how much the record means to him, especially as his family was present during the tribute. He thanked God for giving him the opportunity to reach such an incredible milestone and said it was even more special to do it while wearing the Fluminense shirt, a club that gave him a fresh opportunity late in his career. Following the victory over America de Cali in the Copa Sudamericana, Fluminense held a heartfelt tribute at the Maracana Stadium to celebrate his achievement.
Looking Ahead to More Milestones
Despite breaking such a historic record, Fabio made it clear he has no intention of slowing down. He emphasized that the next step is to keep playing and chasing further accomplishments, taking each match as another chance to add to his legacy.
A Record with Longstanding Debate
Peter Shilton, who played from 1966 to 1997, was widely recognised as the previous record holder. However, the exact number of his appearances varies slightly between sources. Guinness World Records and several statistic websites list his total as 1,390 competitive appearances. Shilton himself claims 1,387 on his official X feed, as Guinness includes 16 unofficial fixtures that he does not count, while he includes 13 under-23 international games that are not normally considered official matches. Regardless of the discrepancy, Fabio’s appearance against America de Cali now places him alone at the top of the list, earning respect across the global football community.
