If you’re wondering which soccer player has played the most professional games, you’ll find the answer in Brazil: Fabio, whose full name is Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel, is the answer—and the 45-year-old is far from finished.
Fabio is very well known in Brazil, but the rest of the world only became aware of the goalkeeper during last summer’s Club World Cup, when he kept a clean sheet for Fluminense against Borussia Dortmund (0-0) and Inter Milan (2-0), among others.
Fabio has been the regular goalkeeper for the traditional club from the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro for four years and has played 261 games for the Tricolor. Last August, he broke the record for the most professional games played by a soccer player when he surpassed the previous record held by English goalkeeping legend Peter Shilton (1,390 games).
With Fluminense, the goalkeeper won the Copa Libertadores in 2023 and, thanks to his strong performances at the Club World Cup in the USA, where his team only lost 2-0 to eventual tournament winners Chelsea in the semifinals,
he was even shortlisted for the FIFA World Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2025, but ultimately did not make the final shortlist.
In the land of samba and Sugarloaf Mountain, which Fabio has never left in his entire 28-year professional career, he has nevertheless long enjoyed an excellent reputation and is considered a “symbol of loyalty.”
In the land of samba and Sugarloaf Mountain, which Fabio has never left in his entire 28-year professional career, he has long enjoyed an excellent reputation, is considered a “symbol of professionalism and passion” and the “spiritual leader of the entire team” – and Fabio intends to continue in this role.
As Fluminense announced, the veteran goalkeeper has extended his contract, which was originally valid until the end of 2026, ahead of schedule until December 2027. This means that the 45-year-old, who played all 90 minutes of every league game last season, can continue to add to his record number of 1,426 professional appearances; During the Club World Cup, he also played his 507th game without conceding a goal in the 0-0 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns, breaking the corresponding record set by Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon.
At just 17 years of age, the keeper made his debut in Brazilian professional football for Uniao Bandeirante, followed by spells at Paranaense, Vasco da Gama, and Cruzeiro. In 2022, Fabio finally moved to Rio de Janeiro and signed for Fluminense.
