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Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel, known simply as Fabio, has etched his name into football history. the 44-year-old Fluminense custodian played his 1,391st professional match on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, in the Copa Sudamericana. This remarkable feat puts him in contention for the most appearances by a professional goalkeeper.
Just three days prior, on saturday, August 16, after a championship match, fluminense hailed thier “idol” with a post on social media celebrating his 1,390 appearances. This number mirrored the Guinness World Record held by English goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who accumulated 1,387 official appearances over a career spanning from 1966 to 1997. Shilton famously played for England during the 1986 World cup quarter-final against Argentina, a match marked by Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God.”
Fabio expressed deep emotion about matching Shilton’s milestone, thanking his family, friends, and faith. However, it appears he may have already surpassed Shilton’s claimed tally, as Shilton’s own biographical information on X lists 1,387 official appearances. Nonetheless, the match on August 19 definitively settled the debate.
Fabio began his career at Flamengo in 1990, but gained prominence during his 13-year spell with cruzeiro, where he won numerous state and national titles. He left Cruzeiro and found a new home at Fluminense, a club seeking stability in goal.
At Fluminense, Fabio continued to make history, notably winning the club’s first Copa Libertadores title on November 4, 2023, at the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Setting Age-Related Records
With nearly three decades in professional football, Fabio has set numerous benchmarks. He is recognized as Fluminense’s oldest player, the oldest to play in and win a Copa Libertadores final, and holds the record for the oldest player in the history of the Brazilian top-flight championship. He also participated in the FIFA club World Cup final on December 22, 2023, at age 42, a match Fluminense lost 0-4 to Manchester City.
During the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, Fabio continued to add to his legacy.On June 25, he recorded his 507th clean sheet in a group stage match against Mamelodi Sundowns. This achievement surpassed the mark of Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon, who played professionally from 1995 to 2023. Fluminense reached the semi-finals of the tournament before being eliminated by eventual winners Chelsea.
Despite his illustrious career and numerous accolades, Fabio has never been capped by the Brazilian national team. He was part of the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship-winning squad alongside Ronaldinho and was listed on several senior team match sheets, including during the 2004 Copa america, but never made an appearance on the field.
His enduring
