List of Official Appearances Records
Most Official Appearances (Top Level)
Consecutive Seasons Data
NB: compilation of lits in progress; totals as of Jun 30, 2023.
- mostly famous players with verified statistics.
- the sources: club books or historical websites, old press.
- the statistics of some players in Brazilian competitions in 1980s-1990s
need to be confirmed (incl. Fabio, Ceni etc.).
- player statistics for reserve and amateur teams is mostly incomplete.
included:
- all leagues (incl. regional-, reserve-, amateur-)
- national, regional and international cups
- all selections: A, B, Ol, U, league, armee, senior, regional, city, etc. (against the same selections)
- other official tournaments and games (organized by the football union), e.g. all-star games
(MLS, South Korea, Japan), FIFA/UEFA sel. and others.
- all cancelled games
- in the last column: games at the “professional” level (without amateur and reserve tournaments and
selections U15-U19).
1 Shilton, Peter England 1949 1965-1997 1503 (1407)
2 Fabio Brazil 1980 1997- 1279+** (1273)
3 Ronaldo, Cristiano Portugal 1985 2001- 1267* (1249)
4 Matthews, Stanley England 1915 1930-1965 1263+ (1151)
5 Clemence, Raymond England 1948 1964-1988 1260+ (1120)
6 Ceni, Rogério Brazil 1973 1990-2015 1232+ (1228)
7 Jennings, Patrick North Ireland 1945 1962-1986 1205+ (1131)
8 Hutchison, Thomas Scotland 1947 1965-1994 1183+ (1095)
9 Buffon, Gianluigi Italy 1978 1995-2023 1179 (1170)
10 Xavi Spain 1980 1997-2019 1163 (1139)
11 Endō, Yasuhito Japan 1980 1997-2023 1156 (1152)
12 Roberto Carlos Brazil 1973 1991-2011 1147 (1146)
13 Messi, Lionel Argentina 1987 2004- 1126* (1116)
14 Marcelinho Paraíba Brazil 1975 1991-2020 1125 (1125)
15 Casillas, Iker Spain 1981 1998-2019 1119 (1057)
16 Zanetti, Javier Argentina 1973 1992-2014 1114 (1114)
17 Moore, Robert England 1941 1957-1978 1111 (991)
18 Peters, Martin England 1943 1959-1983 1106 (989)
19 James, Robert Wales 1957 1973-1998 1102 (1102)
20 Callaghan, Ian England 1942 1959-1982 1094 (1005)
21 Lampard, Frank England 1978 1994-2016 1091 (1041)
22 Dalglish, Kenneth Scotland 1951 1966-1990 1088 (963)
23 McGleish, Scott Scotland 1974 1993-2023 1086 (789)
24 Zinho Brazil 1967 1985-2007 1085 (1085)
25 Bailie, Noel North Ireland 1971 1989-2011 1085 (1017)
26 Ferguson, Glenn North Ireland 1969 1986-2011 1084 (1056)
27 Ford, Anthony England 1959 1975-2002 1082 (1082)
28 Modric, Luca Croatia 1985 2003- 1082* (1060)
29 Dani Alves Brazil 1983 2001-2023 1081 (1081)
30 Seaman, David England 1963 1982-2004 1079 (1042)
31 Meredith, William Wales 1874 1891-1924 1079+ (1013)
32 Rivaldo Brazil 1972 1989-2015 1076+ (1076)
33 Cureton, James England 1975 1993- 1074* (863)
34 Ball, James Alan England 1945 1962-1984 1071 (1051)
35 Iniesta, Andrés Spain 1984 2000- 1066* (1021)
36 Raúl González Blanco Spain 1977 1994-2015 1065 (1055)
37 Moutinho, João Portugal 1986 2004- 1060* (1035)
38 Giggs, Ryan Wales 1973 1990-2014 1058 (1035)
39 James, David England 1970 1989-2014 1054 (1012)
40 Maldini, Paolo Italy 1968 1985-2009 1048 (1045)
41 Neal, Philip England 1951 1967-1990 1048 (1000)
42 Charlton, Robert England 1937 1954-1981 1047 (960)
43 Lorimer, Peter Scotland 1946 1962-1986 1044 (935)
44 Ze Roberto Brazil 1974 1994-2017 1043 (1043)
45 Zubizarreta, Andoni Spain 1961 1979-1998 1042 (997)
46 Sergio Ramos Spain 1986 2002- 1040* (1027)
47 Hayles, Barrington Jamaica/England 1972 1989-2023 1040+ (517)
48 Hollins, John England 1946 1963-1984 1038 (974)
49 Leighton, James Scotland 1958 1977-2000 1036 (938)
50 Miura, Kazuyoshi Japan 1967 1986- 1034+* (1034)
51 Rooke, Ronald England 1911 1929-1961 1030+ (500)
52 Mills, Michael England 1949 1965-1988 1028 (952)
53 Alexander, Graham Scotland 1971 1991-2012 1025 (1025)
54 Hartford, Richard Asa Scotland 1950 1967-1991 1022 (973)
55 Irwin, Denis Ireland 1965 1982-2004 1021 (967)
56 Southall, Neville Wales 1957 1980-2000 1017 (991)
57 Seedorf, Clarence Netherlands 1976 1992-2013 1017 (976)
58 Speed, Gary Wales 1969 1986-2009 1016 (935)
59 Reina, Jose "Pepe" Spain 1982 1999- 1013* (998)
60 Cush, Wilbur North Ireland 1928 1945-1970 1011+ (1000)
61 Shaw, Charles Scotland 1885 1900-1926 1011+ (921)
62 Milner, James England 1986 2002- 1010* (986)
63 Henry, Thierry France 1977 1992-2014 1010 (934)
64 Wilkins, Raymond England 1956 1972-1997 1008 (934)
65 Sheringham, Edward England 1966 1983-2008 1007 (980)
66 Humphries, William North Ireland 1936 1953-1976 1005 (974)
67 Matthäus, Lothar Germany 1961 1978-2000 1005 (973)
68 Romario Brazil 1966 1984-2009 1003 (1001)
69 Paine, Terence England 1939 1956-1980 1003 (984)
70 Pearce, Stuart England 1962 1978-2002 1002 (821)
71 Ibrahimovic, Zlatan Sweden 1981 1999-2023 1001 (997)
72 Kelly, James North Ireland 1911 1925-1957 1001+ (891)
73 McCall, Stuart Scotland 1964 1982-2004 1000 (1000)
74 Redfearn, Neil England 1965 1982-2008 1000+ (981)
75 Strachan, Gordon Scotland 1957 1972-1997 1000 (936)
76 Nene Brazil 1981 2000- 998* (998)
77 Alexandro de Souza/Alex Brazil 1977 1995-2014 997+ (997)
78 Jardine, William Sandy Scotland 1948 1966-1988 997+ (989)
79 Schmeichel, Peter Dania 1963 1981-2003 997+ (951)
80 Lewandowski, Robert Poland 1988 2004- 997* (929)
81 Perryman, Stephen England 1951 1966-1990 996+ (973)
82 Džeko, Edin Bosnia 1986 2003- 991* (986)
83 Beardsley, Peter England 1961 1979-1999 991+ (955)
84 Aldridge, John Ireland 1958 1976-1998 990+ (897)
85 Wark, John Scotland 1957 1973-1997 988 (854)
86 Magno Alves Brazil 1976 1993-2021 986 (986)
87 Miller, William Scotland 1955 1971-1990 985 (892)
88 Figo, Luis Portugal 1972 1988-2009 984 (942)
89 Benzema, Karim France 1987 2004- 982* (932)
90 Narey, David Scotland 1956 1973-1995 980+ (965)
91 Peacock, Robert North Ireland 1928 1945-1969 978+ (975)
92 Fulton, Robert North Ireland 1906 1921-1947 976+ (951)
NB: * indicates player is still active (at last update);
+ indicates number is a lower bound - player may have played more;
# corrected or added data after last update (only inactive players).
** without Fabio's statistics for União Bandeirante and Atlético Paranaense
(1997-1999, around 40 matches). These statistics need verification.
Notes: there may be other players with 1000 or more matches.
included: - top leagues (incl. Brazilian regional leagues, serie A); - national and international cups; - national, league and U23 selections. NB: preliminary list 1 Ronaldo, Cristiano 1234* 2 Shilton, Peter 1233 3 Ceni, Rogério 1228 4 Fabio 1191+** 5 Zanetti, Javier 1081 6 Buffon, Gianluigi 1078 7 Zinho 1078 8 Messi, Lionel 1075* 9 Clemence, Raymond 1070 10 Roberto Carlos 1066 11 Dani Alves 1060 12 Ferguson, Glenn 1056 13 Jennings, Patrick 1049 14 Casillas, Iker 1048 15 Modric, Luca 1045* 16 Ze Roberto 1042 17 Raúl González Blanco 1040 18 Endō, Yasuhito 1036 19 Maldini, Paolo 1032 20 Giggs, Ryan 1031 21 Xavi 1023 22 Bailie, Noel 1017 23 Moutinho, João 1017* 24 Lampard, Frank 1010 25 Rivaldo 1006
10 consecutive seasons
Neal, Philip 1975-1985 662 (missed only 4 games in this period for FC Liverpool)
Clemence, Raymond 1972-1982 657
Ceni, Rogério 1999-2008 653
Dalglish, Kenneth 1972-1982 653 (first player with 4 seasons 70+ games)
Hughes, Emlyn 1968-1978 637
Messi, Lionel 2008-2018 631
Griezmann, Antoine 2014-2024 617 #
Casillas, Iker 2002-2012 610
Zubizarreta, Andoni 1985-1995 606
Roberto Carlos 1996-2006 603
Ronaldo, Cristiano 2004-2014 602
Xavi 2003-2013 601
Peters, Martin 1964-1974 601
Shilton, Peter 1978-1988 599
Zinho 1992-2001 599
10 consecutive seasons (before 1950)
Fulton, Robert 1930-1940 506
Shaw, Charles 1907-1917 503
Gray, Douglas 1927-1937 498
Kelly, James 1931-1941 494
Morton, Alan 1920-1930 471
15 consecutive seasons
Ceni, Rogério 1997-2011 954
Clemence, Raymond 1970-1985 930+
Dalglish, Kenneth 1971-1986 919
Roberto Carlos 1991-2006 908
Messi, Lionel 2008-2023 894
Neal, Philip 1971-1986 893+
Ronaldo, Cristiano 2003-2018 891
Zubizarreta, Andoni 1982-1997 886
Xavi 1999-2014 879
15 consecutive seasons (before 1950)
Fulton, Robert 1927-1942 739 (missed almost 100 games in this period due to injuries
and his job as a school teacher)
Shaw, Charles 1907-1922 736 (missed only 12 games in this period for Queens Park Rangers
and Celtic FC)
Gray, Douglas 1927-1942 732
Thanks to Dorian Leveque (England).
Author welcomes any additional data on possibly missing matches
Prepared and maintained by Vladimir Kolos for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Author: Vladimir Kolos
(vkoloss@mail.ru)
Last updated: 21 Aug 2024
(C) Copyright Vladimir Kolos and RSSSF 2009/24
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.