Top 10 players with most appearances in football history

Below are the names you would perhaps have come across the most on the team sheets.

Consistency is still an important factor in football since it enables you to be present for many crucial matches for your club or country. Many world-class players have played a large number of matches due to their endurance. There are numerous quality players to name. Recently, another player to add to this list is Lionel Messi, who made his 1000th appearance for club and country against Australia in the FIFA World Cup 2022. 

So, without further ado, here are the ten players who have made the most appearances for the club and nation since their debut in the history of football.

Xavi – 1,100

The Barcelona great has been steady throughout his career, appearing in a number of games for both Barcelona and Spain. Xavi made his club debut in 1998 and has since won countless La Liga and Champions League trophies with Barcelona before returning as manager. He also won two European Championships and a World Cup with Spain.

Xavi has made 767 appearances for Barcelona, the second most in club history, as well as 117 for Al Sadd and 133 for Spain. He has also finished second in the Ballon d'Or and received other individual awards, which speaks volumes about his consistency.

Gianluigi Buffon – 1135

Only if there are matches Buffon's lifespan the former Juventus player played till he was 40 years old. Buffon made his debut for Parma in 1995 and has since been a reliable goalkeeper for Juventus, appearing in 656 matches for them, and his consistent performance earned him Serie A goalkeeper of the year. Buffon won every title imaginable with Parma, Juventus, and PSG, but he was one of those players who never won the Champions League.

Despite this, he won the FIFA World Cup with Italy in 2006. He is the most capped player in Italy's history, with 177 appearances.

Cristiano Ronaldo – 1147

No player can equal Ronaldo's degree of consistency; at the age of 37, he is still one of Europe's best players, producing in every game. Ronaldo rose quickly through the ranks of Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid. He made his United debut at the age of 18 and the remainder was history. He played 342 times for Man United and 438 times for Real Madrid, winning every conceivable club title with both clubs.

Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in men's football and has 194 appearances for Portugal. His longevity is unrivalled and he is the active player with the most appearances in football history in international football.

Ray Clemence – 1164

Clemence was a Liverpool icon and one of 31 players to appear in over 1000 games in all competitions. He holds the record for the most clean sheets in football (460). Throughout his career, Clemence played for Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, and Tottenham, where he made a total of 758 games and scooped every available title, including the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, and Premier League. Clemence also competed in 61 international matches.

Tommy Hutchison – 1177

Tommy Hutchison played as a midfielder for numerous clubs and stayed constant for them until his retirement. He was a Coventry City icon. Tommy Hutchison made 983 appearances for his club, capturing all of their trophies.

Hutchison made his debut for Scotland in 1973 but only lasted five years before retiring in 1975, making him another player with the most club and country appearances.

Frantisek Planicka – 1186

Frantisek was a prominent goalkeeper during the 1990s. He was a Czechoslovak star who spent his entire career with Slavia Praha, participating in 969 matches and also spending brief periods with other clubs. Frantisek was the most decorated player in Czechoslovak football history. He played in 73 national team matches and had one of the most courageous moments when he insisted on playing despite sustaining a terrible injury during the World Cup.

Fabio – 1212

Fabio spent his whole playing career in Brazilian competitions, as he never made it to a European team. He is still one of the few active players in football, having played for a variety of clubs in Brazil. With 789 appearances for Cruzeiro, he has the most caps. He is now playing for Fluminense. Despite never playing for the Brazilian senior team and despite playing for a number of Brazilian clubs.

Rogerio Ceni – 1237

Rogerio Ceni is not your average goalkeeper; he is regarded as one of the all-time greatest Brazilian goalkeepers and is recognized by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics as the goalkeeper with the most goals scored in football history. During his 25-year professional career, Ceni appeared in 1237 professional club matches and was affiliated with So Paulo, with whom he won 20 major titles.

He scored 131 goals during his career, the majority of which were from free kicks and penalties, with one coming from open play. Rogerio Ceni also represented Brazil 18 times during the year.

Paul Bastock – 1286

Paul Bastock has made the second-most appearances in football history, with over 1,286 appearances in league and cup competitions, mostly in the English lower leagues. Since his debut in 1988, Bastock has played for 20 different clubs, notably Cambridge United, Boston United, Rushden & Diamonds, and St Albans City. He only played once for the national team, in an unofficial game against a Highland League selection.

Peter Shilton – 1375

Shilton's club career spanned 30 years and 11 clubs, and he is the only player in football history to have made over 1000 appearances for five separate clubs. Although his most accomplished time came with Nottingham Forest, where he collected two European Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, the First Division title, and the Football League Cup.

He also represented England 123 times and featured in FIFA World Cups in 1982 and 1986, and holds the record of the most capped player of the England national team.