List of Official Appearances Records
Most Official Appearances (Top Level)
Consecutive Seasons Data
Progression of Records
NB: compilation of lists in progress.
- 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 1504 (1407)#
2 Fabio Brazil 1980 1997- 1313+** (1300)
3 Ronaldo, Cristiano Portugal 1985 2001- 1291* (1273)
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- 1140* (1130)
14 Marcelinho Paraíba Brazil 1975 1991-2020 1125 (1125)
15 Casillas, Iker Spain 1981 1998-2019 1119 (1057)
16 Modric, Luca Croatia 1985 2003- 1114* (1092)
17 Zanetti, Javier Argentina 1973 1992-2014 1114 (1114)
18 Moore, Robert England 1941 1957-1978 1111 (991)
19 Peters, Martin England 1943 1959-1983 1111 (989) #
20 James, Robert Wales 1957 1973-1998 1102 (1102)
21 Callaghan, Ian England 1942 1959-1982 1094 (1005)
22 Lampard, Frank England 1978 1994-2016 1091 (1041)
23 McGleish, Scott Scotland 1974 1993- 1089* (789)
24 Dalglish, Kenneth Scotland 1951 1966-1990 1088 (963)
25 Zinho Brazil 1967 1985-2007 1085 (1085)
26 Bailie, Noel North Ireland 1971 1989-2011 1085 (1017)
27 Ferguson, Glenn North Ireland 1969 1986-2011 1084 (1056)
28 Ford, Anthony England 1959 1975-2002 1082 (1082)
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 Moutinho, João Portugal 1986 2004- 1077* (1052)
33 Rivaldo Brazil 1972 1989-2015 1076+ (1076)
34 Cureton, James England 1975 1993- 1074* (863)
35 Ball, James Alan England 1945 1962-1984 1071 (1051)
36 Iniesta, Andrés Spain 1984 2000-2024 1066 (1021)
37 Raúl González Blanco Spain 1977 1994-2015 1065 (1055)
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 Miura, Kazuyoshi Japan 1967 1986- 1046+* (1046)
44 Lorimer, Peter Scotland 1946 1962-1986 1044 (935)
45 Ze Roberto Brazil 1974 1994-2017 1043 (1043)
46 Zubizarreta, Andoni Spain 1961 1979-1998 1042 (997)
47 Sergio Ramos Spain 1986 2002- 1040* (1027)
48 Hayles, Barrington Jamaica/England 1972 1989-2023 1040+ (517)
49 Cush, Wilbur North Ireland 1928 1945-1970 1039+ (1000)#
50 Hollins, John England 1946 1963-1984 1038 (974) #
51 Leighton, James Scotland 1958 1977-2000 1036 (938)
52 Rooke, Ronald England 1911 1929-1961 1030+ (500)
53 Mills, Michael England 1949 1965-1988 1028 (952)
54 Džeko, Edin Bosnia 1986 2003- 1026* (998)
55 Lewandowski, Robert Poland 1988 2004- 1026* (957)
56 Alexander, Graham Scotland 1971 1991-2012 1025 (1025)
57 Reina, Jose "Pepe" Spain 1982 1999- 1023* (1008)
58 Hartford, Richard Asa Scotland 1950 1967-1991 1022 (973)
59 Irwin, Denis Ireland 1965 1982-2004 1021 (967)
60 Rakitic, Ivan Croatia 1988 2003- 1020* (982) NEW
61 Southall, Neville Wales 1957 1980-2000 1017 (991)
62 Seedorf, Clarence Netherlands 1976 1992-2013 1017 (976)
63 Speed, Gary Wales 1969 1986-2009 1016 (935)
64 Nene Brazil 1981 2000- 1015* (1015)
65 Milner, James England 1986 2002- 1013* (989)
66 Shaw, Charles Scotland 1885 1900-1926 1011+ (921)
67 Henry, Thierry France 1977 1992-2014 1010 (934)
68 Wilkins, Raymond England 1956 1972-1997 1008 (934)
69 Sheringham, Edward England 1966 1983-2008 1007 (980)
70 Matthäus, Lothar Germany 1961 1978-2000 1006 (971)#
71 Humphries, William North Ireland 1936 1953-1976 1005 (974)
72 Kelly, James North Ireland 1911 1925-1957 1004+ (891)
73 Romario Brazil 1966 1984-2009 1003 (1001)
74 Paine, Terence England 1939 1956-1980 1003 (984)
75 Pearce, Stuart England 1962 1978-2002 1002 (821)
76 Ibrahimovic, Zlatan Sweden 1981 1999-2023 1001 (997)
77 McCall, Stuart Scotland 1964 1982-2004 1000 (1000)
78 Redfearn, Neil England 1965 1982-2008 1000+ (981)
79 Strachan, Gordon Scotland 1957 1972-1997 1000 (936)
80 Alexandro de Souza/Alex Brazil 1977 1995-2014 997+ (997)
81 Jardine, William Sandy Scotland 1948 1966-1988 997+ (989)
82 Schmeichel, Peter Dania 1963 1981-2003 997+ (951)
83 Perryman, Stephen England 1951 1966-1990 997+ (973)#
84 Benzema, Karim France 1987 2004- 993* (943)
85 Suárez, Luis Uruguay 1987 2005- 992* (992) NEW
86 Beardsley, Peter England 1961 1979-1999 991+ (955)
87 Aldridge, John Ireland 1958 1976-1998 990+ (897)
88 Navas, Jesus Spain 1985 2002-2024 990 (990)
89 Wark, John Scotland 1957 1973-1997 988 (854)
90 Magno Alves Brazil 1976 1993-2021 986 (986)
91 Miller, William Scotland 1955 1971-1990 985 (892)
82 Figo, Luis Portugal 1972 1988-2009 984 (942)
93 Narey, David Scotland 1956 1973-1995 980+ (965)
94 Peacock, Robert North Ireland 1928 1945-1969 978+ (975)
95 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 1258* 2 Shilton, Peter 1233 3 Ceni, Rogério 1228 4 Fabio 1218+** 5 Messi, Lionel 1089* 6 Zanetti, Javier 1081 7 Buffon, Gianluigi 1078 8 Zinho 1078 9 Modric, Luca 1077* 10 Clemence, Raymond 1070 11 Roberto Carlos 1066 12 Dani Alves 1060 13 Ferguson, Glenn 1056 14 Jennings, Patrick 1049 15 Casillas, Iker 1048 16 Ze Roberto 1042 17 Raúl González Blanco 1040 18 Endō, Yasuhito 1036 19 Moutinho, João 1034* 20 Maldini, Paolo 1032 21 Giggs, Ryan 1031 22 Xavi 1023 23 Bailie, Noel 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
Busquets, Sergio 2009-2019 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 FC Celtic)
Gray, Douglas 1927-1942 732
NB: preliminary lists
All Official Games
Wood, Harry 1881–1905 733+*
Meredith, William 1891-1924 1910 1079+
Matthews, Stanley 1930-1965 1958 1263+
Shilton, Peter 1965-1997 1989 1504
* first player to have played 500 (1899), 600 (1901) and 700 (1904) official games.
Official Games – Top Level
NB: incl. Top Leagues, National Cups, Regional Cups (for 1st teams), EC, National-,
U23-, League-, Regional Selects
Wood, Harry 1881–1905 455+
Methven, James 1891-1906 1904 532
Bloomer, Stephen 1891-1914 1907 663
Smith, Alec 1894-1915 1911 708
McMenemy, James 1902-1922 1922 732
McNair, Alexander 1904-1925 1923 792
Morton, Alan 1913-1933 1932 809
Fulton, Robert 1921-1947 1942 867
Cush, Wilbur 1945-1970 1968 990
Jennings, Patrick 1962-1986 1983 1049
Clemence, Raymond 1964-1988 1986 1070
Shilton, Peter 1965-1997 1988 1233
Ronaldo, Cristiano 2002- 2024
Official Games – Top Level
NB: incl. Southern League, England before 1914, English Regional Leagues (1915-1919),
North Irish and Scottish Regional Leagues during WWII)
Wood, Harry 1881-1905 620+
Bloomer Stephen 1891-1914 1911 663
Smith, Alec 1894-1915 1911 708
Meredith, William 1891-1924 1918 821
Shaw, Charlie 1900-1926 1923 908
Gray, Douglas 1925-1946 1944 930
Cush, Wilbur 1945-1970 1968 990
Jennings, Patrick 1962-1986 1983 1049
Clemence, Raymond 1964-1988 1986 1070
Shilton, Peter 1965-1997 1988 1233
Ronaldo, Cristiano 2002- 2024
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: 23 Jan 2025
(C) Copyright Vladimir Kolos and RSSSF 2009/25
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.