World Record! Fabio creates football history, breaks Peter Shilton's all-time record for most competitive appearances

Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio etched his name into football history on Tuesday, becoming the player with the most competitive appearances in men’s football. The 44-year-old marked his 1,391st professional match during Fluminense’s 2-0 victory over Colombia’s America de Cali at the Maracanã in the Copa Sudamericana, surpassing the legendary Peter Shilton’s tally.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While FIFA and CONMEBOL are yet to officially recognize the record, Fluminense and Brazilian media declared the veteran shot-stopper as football’s new appearance king.

“Sometimes we don’t realise the importance of such a significant achievement as breaking this record, which has stood for many years,” Fabio said after celebrating the occasion with a clean sheet.

The home crowd roared in approval, chanting “Fabio is the best goalkeeper in Brazil” as the veteran received a commemorative plaque.Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho hailed his player’s longevity and professionalism: “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.”Fabio’s career has spanned nearly three decades, all within Brazil. After starting at Uniao Bandeirante in 1997, the same year Shilton retired, he went on to play 150 games for Vasco da Gama and a staggering 976 times for Cruzeiro between 2005 and 2022. Since joining Fluminense, Tuesday’s appearance was his 235th.Among his honours, Fabio lifted the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense in 2023 and helped the club reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup in the United States this summer.