Football is a sport that requires immense dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It is not easy to become a professional football player, let alone play over a 1,000 matches.
Injuries, personal issues, and sporting issues can seriously reduce the amount of appearances a football player can make in their career.
Only a select few football players have managed to achieve this magnificent feat of making 1,000 match appearances.
This list features footballers who have played at least 1,000 official matches at all age levels, counting only the matches with national teams for junior levels.
This is because data for club levels cannot be found for the majority of the players. Playing over a thousand games is a remarkable achievement, and it is a testament to the skill, commitment, and longevity of these footballers.
Now let’s find out the footballers with over 1000 appearances in their career.
1. Peter Shilton (1,489)
Peter Shilton is a retired English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He is the soccer player with the most match appearances ever.
Shilton made a total of 1,489 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, and Southampton.
2. Fábio (1,310+)
Fábio, the Brazilian goalkeeper for Fluminense, holds the distinction of having the second-highest number of official game appearances of any professional football player.
When he first played for Fluminense on February 4, 2022, against Audax Rio, he set a new record as the club’s oldest player at 41 years and 120 days, breaking the previous record held by Magno Alves.
In November 2023, at 43 years old, Fábio not only secured the Copa Libertadores title but also became the first Brazilian to surpass 100 matches in the competition, ranking third overall behind Paraguayan players Sergio Aquino and Ever Almeida.
His participation in the final also made him the oldest player to both compete in and win a Copa Libertadores final.
3. Paul Bastock (1,286+)
Paul Bastock is a retired English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is known for holding the record for the most appearances made by a goalkeeper in English football.
He is also the current active player with the most official appearances as he is currently a player-manager for Boston United.
Bastock made a total of 1,286+ appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Boston United, St Albans City, and Wisbech Town.
3. Ray Clemence (1,259)
Ray Clemence was a former English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation.
Clemence made a total of 1,259 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Scunthorpe United. The Englishman also holds the record for the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in soccer history (460).
5. Rogério Ceni (1,226)
Rogério Ceni is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is known for his time playing for São Paulo. Ceni made a total of 1,226 appearances throughout his career, all for São Paulo.
Did you know? Rogério Ceni, although being a goalkeeper, is one of the footballers with the most free-kick goals in history.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo (1201)
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a forward. He is known for his time playing for Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Ronaldo has made a total of 1,201 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Cristiano Ronaldo currently holds the record among outfield players, and is also the active outfield player with the most official appearances. He is also the player with the most appearances in international football (198).
7. František Plánička (1,187)
František Plánička was a former Czech footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Plánička made a total of 1,187 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Slavia Prague and the Czechoslovakia national team.
8. Tommy Hutchison (1,178+)
Tommy Hutchison is a retired Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder. Hutchison is known for his time playing for many clubs including Manchester City, Coventry City, and Swindon Town. He made a total of 1,178+ appearances throughout his career.
9. Gianluigi Buffon (1,174+)
Gianluigi Buffon is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Buffon has made a total of 1,174+ appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Parma, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain.
10. Xavi (1,148)
Xavi is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder. He is known for his time playing for Barcelona. The Spaniard is one of the few soccer players who won everything.
Xavi made a total of 1,148 appearances throughout his career, playing for only two clubs, Barcelona and Al Sadd.
11. Roberto Carlos (1,141)
Roberto Carlos is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a left-back. The Brazilian is considered one of the best left-backs in football history.
He is known for his time playing for Real Madrid. Carlos made a total of 1,141+ appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Corinthians.
12. Yasuhito Endō (1,141)
Yasuhito Endō is a retired Japanese footballer who played as a midfielder. He is known for his time playing for Gamba Osaka. Endō made a total of 1,141 appearances throughout his career, playing for only two clubs, Gamba Osaka and the Japan national team.
13. Iker Casillas (1,125)
Iker Casillas is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is known for his time playing for Real Madrid and the Spain national team. Casillas made a total of 1,125 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Real Madrid, Porto, and the Spain national team.
14. Javier Zanetti (1,115)
Javier Zanetti is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a right-back or defensive midfielder. He is known for his time playing for Inter Milan. Zanetti made a total of 1,115 appearances throughout his career, all for Inter Milan.
15. Pat Jennings (1,105)
Pat Jennings is a retired Northern Irish footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is known for his time playing for Tottenham Hotspur and the Northern Ireland national team. Jennings made a total of 1,105 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and the Northern Ireland national team.
16. Marcelinho Paraíba (1,097)
Marcelinho Paraíba is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is known for his time playing for many clubs including Hertha BSC, Borussia Dortmund, and Grêmio. Paraíba made a total of 1,097 appearances throughout his career.
17. Robbie James (1,095)
Robbie James was a former Welsh footballer who played as a midfielder. He is known for his time playing for Swansea City. James made a total of 1,095 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Swansea City, Leeds United, and Wales national team.
18. Tony Ford (1,083+)
Tony Ford is a retired English footballer who played as a winger. He is known for his time playing for many clubs including Grimsby Town, Bradford City, and Scunthorpe United. Ford made a total of 1,083+ appearances throughout his career.
19. Dani Alves (1,080)
Dani Alves is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a right-back. Apart from being regarded as one of the best right-backs in football history, Dani Alves is also one of the most decorated footballers.
He is known for his time playing for Barcelona. Alves has made a total of 1,080 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Sevilla, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain.
20. Lionel Messi (1,081)
Lionel Messi is undoubtedly one of the greatest soccer players of all time. The Argentine legend has won a lot of trophies while playing for Barcelona, Argentina, and PSG. He is also the footballer with the most individual awards.
The World Cup winner is known for his time playing for Barcelona. Messi has made a total of 1,081 appearances throughout his career, all for Barcelona.
21. Raúl (1,071)
Raúl is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a forward. He is known for his time playing for Real Madrid. Raúl made a total of 1,071 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Real Madrid, Schalke 04, and the Spain national team.
22. Zinho (1,067)
Zinho is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a midfielder. He is known for his time playing for Flamengo. Zinho made a total of 1,067 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Flamengo, Palmeiras, and the Brazil national team.
23. Zé Roberto (1,067)
Zé Roberto is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a midfielder. He is known for his time playing for Bayern Munich. Zé Roberto made a total of 1,067 appearances throughout his career, playing for many clubs including Flamengo, Bayern Munich, and the Brazil national team.
24. Rivaldo (1,063+)
Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira, commonly known as Rivaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is considered to be one of the best dribblers in football history.
He is best known for his performances with Barcelona, where he won two La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League. Rivaldo made 1,063+ appearances throughout his career.
25. Alan Ball (1,057+)
Alan Ball was an English footballer who played as a midfielder. He was part of the England national team that won the 1966 World Cup. Ball played for several clubs, including Blackpool, Everton, and Arsenal. He made 1,057+ appearances throughout his career.
26. David Seaman (1,053)
David Seaman is a retired English goalkeeper who played for several clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester City. He won numerous trophies throughout his career, including three Premier League titles and the UEFA Cup. Seaman made 1,053 appearances throughout his career.
27. João Moutinho (1,048+)
João Moutinho is a Portuguese midfielder who currently plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He has played for several clubs throughout his career, including Sporting CP, Porto, and AS Monaco. Moutinho has made 1,048+ appearances throughout his career.
28. Glenn Ferguson (1,047)
Glenn Ferguson is a retired Northern Irish footballer who played as a striker. He played for several clubs, including Linfield and Glenavon. Ferguson made 1,047 appearances throughout his career.
29. Frank Lampard (1,046)
Frank Lampard is a retired English midfielder who played for several clubs, including West Ham United, Chelsea, and Manchester City. He won numerous trophies throughout his career, including three Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. Lampard made 1,046 appearances throughout his career.
30. Kazuyoshi Miura (1,045+)
Kazuyoshi Miura, also known as King Kazu, is a Japanese striker who plays as a forward for Liga Portugal 2 club Oliveirense, on loan from J1 League club Yokohama FC.
Kazuyoshi is known for being one of the oldest footballers still playing actively at 56.
He has played for several clubs throughout his career, including Genoa and Sydney FC. Miura has made 1,045+ appearances throughout his career.
31. Paolo Maldini (1,044)
Paolo Maldini is a retired Italian defender who spent his entire club career with AC Milan. He won numerous trophies throughout his career, including seven Serie A titles and five UEFA Champions League titles. Maldini made 1,044 appearances throughout his career.
32. Ryan Giggs (1,044)
Ryan Giggs is a retired Welsh midfielder who spent his entire club career with Manchester United. He is the most decorated player in English football history, having won numerous trophies, including 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League titles. Giggs made 1,044 appearances throughout his career.
33. Andrés Iniesta (1,043)
Andrés Iniesta is a retired Spanish midfielder who is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He spent most of his club career with Barcelona, where he won nine La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. Iniesta made 1,043 appearances throughout his career.
34. Graham Alexander (1,025)
Graham Alexander is a retired Scottish defender who played for several clubs, including Scunthorpe United and Burnley. He made 1,025 appearances throughout his career.
35. Andoni Zubizarreta (1,024+)
Andoni Zubizarreta is a retired Spanish goalkeeper who played for several clubs, including Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona. He won numerous trophies throughout his career, including six La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League. Zubizarreta made 1,024 appearances throughout his career.
36. Noel Bailie (1,024)
Noel Bailie is a retired Northern Irish defender who spent his entire club career with Linfield. He won numerous trophies throughout his career, including 11 Irish League titles. Bailie made 1,024 appearances throughout his career.
37. David James (1,023+)
David James is a retired English goalkeeper who played for several clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester City. He made 1,023+ appearances throughout his career.
James is one of the goalkeepers with the most clean sheets in the Premier League.
38. Timmy Simons (1,023)
Timmy Simons is a retired Belgian midfielder who played for several clubs, including Club Brugge and PSV Eindhoven. He made 1,023 appearances throughout his career.
39. Luka Modrić (1,020+)
Luka Modrić is a Croatian midfielder who currently plays for Real Madrid. He has also played for Tottenham Hotspur and Dinamo Zagreb. The ageless midfielder won the Ballon d’Or in 2018.
Modrić has won numerous trophies throughout his career, including four UEFA Champions League titles. He has made 1,020+ appearances throughout his career.
40. Ian Callaghan (1,017)
Ian Callaghan is a retired English midfielder who spent most of his club career with Liverpool. He won numerous trophies throughout his career, including five English league titles and two UEFA Cup titles. Callaghan made 1,017 appearances throughout his career.
41. Clarence Seedorf (1,017)
Clarence Seedorf is a retired Dutch midfielder who played for several clubs, including Ajax, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. He won numerous trophies throughout his career, including four UEFA Champions League titles with three different clubs. Seedorf made 1,017 appearances throughout his career.
42. Ronnie Rooke (1,014)
Ronnie Rooke was an English striker who played for several clubs, including Arsenal and Fulham. He won the English league title twice with Arsenal. Rooke made 1,014 appearances throughout his career.
43. Sergio Ramos (1,003+)
Sergio Ramos is a Spanish defender who currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain. The aggressive defender is one of the footballers with the most red cards in football history.
He spent most of his club career with Real Madrid, where he won numerous trophies, including five La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. Ramos has made 1,003+ appearances throughout his career.
Robert Carmona (the Guinness World Records holder of the oldest footballer in the world) and Neville Southall have been said to have also played over 1,000 appearances.
However, there is little or no statistical data that shows evidence of their appearances.
