Fábio surpasses Peter Shilton’s record – but controversy remains

20/08/2025

By RSR Málaga – August 20, 2025

Brazilian goalkeeper Fábio made history at the Maracanã, reaching his 1,391st professional appearance in Fluminense’s Copa Sudamericana victory over América de Cali. With this, he officially surpassed legendary English goalkeeper Peter Shilton, long regarded as football’s all-time appearance leader.

The club and fans honored Fábio with a commemorative shirt, celebrating his remarkable career. However, the feat comes with controversy: Shilton claims he played 1,387 official matches, not the 1,390 listed in the Guinness World Records, depending on whether his England U-23 games are counted.

This statistical dispute leaves the question open: is Fábio truly the new world record holder? For Fluminense and its fans, the answer is clear — yes.

Regardless of the debate, Fábio’s numbers speak for themselves: Libertadores champion (2023), world record for clean sheets, and nearly three decades of professional football since debuting in 1997. With a contract until 2026, when he will turn 46, Fábio’s longevity is as historic as the record itself.