Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel: A Milestone in Football
At the Club World Cup, Brazilian goalie Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel, representing Fluminense, is setting new benchmarks in the world of football. Having started his professional journey in 1997, he has recently hit a staggering milestone of 1,375 official matches in his senior career. This impressive tally showcases not only his enduring talent and commitment but places him in the spotlight of record-holding players within the sport.
The Competition: Peter Shilton’s Legacy
Only one player previously stood in close competition: English legend Peter Shilton, whose career spanned from 1966 until 1997. Shilton is recognized as the only other player who has surpassed the 1,350 match threshold in top-level football. While he claims to have played 1,387 matches, Guinness World Records cites his total at 1,390. However, the precise nature of these counts has sparked some debate.
Understanding Official Matches
To assess how these figures are calculated, it is essential to understand which matches qualify as official. In club football, official games are those played in established competitions, while pre-season friendlies do not count. Moreover, statistics do not include games from amateur setups or regional leagues outside national systems. On the international front, any senior national team game is classified as official, but lower age-level matches, including under-23 competitions, are excluded.
Delving into Records
“According to the English National Football Archive, he achieved 1,249 club appearances across his lengthy tenure with clubs like Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, and Southampton.”
Adding his 125 caps for England brings his official total to 1,374. The discrepancies from his claimed figures appear to originate from including under-23 appearances and possibly some non-standard competitions, which muddy the waters about his true total.
Fabio’s Verified Statistics
In contrast, Fabio’s impressive 1,375 matches have all come from his long career within Brazil, having played for clubs such as Vasco da Gama, Cruzeiro, and Fluminense, without representing the national team. His record has been meticulously verified through extensive investigation by Brazilian news outlets. It includes 30 games for União Bandeirante, 150 for Vasco da Gama, 976 for Cruzeiro, and 219 for Fluminense. All of these matches are classified as official in terms of senior competition.
The Future of Goalkeeping Records
Although Fluminense recognizes Shilton’s count as 1,387, there remains a possibility that Fabio may legitimately surpass that record within the year, as he continues to solidify his position as a critical player for his club. Shilton has acknowledged the competition for his long-standing record with respect, indicating a mutual admiration between the two athletes.
As Fabio continues his career, the football world watches closely, noting that he could soon reach significant thresholds like the esteemed 1,400 appearances—a goal not far from reach given his current trajectory.
Other Players in the Race
Interestingly, leading Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, at 40, has accomplished 1,281 official matches so far and could have ambitions to close the gap on both of these goalkeepers as he continues playing professionally. Whether he will also aspire to eclipse the records held by Fabio remains to be seen as he strives for another milestone: 1,000 career goals.
Conclusion
In the dynamic landscape of football records, the conversation around appearances and achievements will undoubtedly keep evolving, but for now, the headline remains focused on the legendary goalkeepers battling for supremacy in match appearances—a true testament to endurance in sports.
