A Brazilian goalkeeper has broken the record held by former England international Peter Shilton for the most competitive caps in world football. 44-year-old Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel who plays for Brazilian giants Fluminense, made his 1,391st appearance in the round-of-16 of the Copa Sudamericana, the South American equivalent of the Europa League. His side beat America de Cali 2-0 at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
The shot stopper made his professional debut in 1997, spending his entire career in Brazil. Over the years, he has played for Uniao Bandeirante, Atletico Paranaense, Vasco da Gama, Cruzeiro and Fluminense. Crezeiro was the club with which he made the most appearances, 976 between 2005 and 2022. He played 150 games for Vasco da Gama and 30 for Uniao Bandeirante. His record-breaking appearance was his 235th cap for Fluminense.
According to the Guiness Book of Records, Shilton who held the record, played 1,390 games, also as a goalkeeper, though he claims three fewer.
But Fabio, who has yet to represent Brazil despite winning the U-17 World Cup in 1997, is only being recognised by Fluminense as the record holder after passing the 1,390 number.
Shilton, now 75, recorded 1,249 games over his club career and 125 games for England, bringing his total to 1,374. According to England Football Online, he played 13 games for the U-23s, bringing his total up to 1,387, the record he believes he has. Whether or not these games should count, the record has now been broken.
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