Most appearances in FIFA World Cup history
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is bound to produce some big stories but something that does not get mentioned enough is how often players are able to remain at the top of their game for. Longevity is an understated quality among professional athletes so we take a look at which players have made the most appearances in World Cup history:
You do not make large numbers of appearances for your country if you are not good enough and that certainly applies when it comes to being included in squads for major tournaments. Lothar Matthaeus (Germany) was the most capped player at World Cups until the conclusion of the 2022 edition of the tournament having turned out on 25 occasions. Compatriot Miroslav Klose achieved 24 World Cup appearances during his career while Italian legend Paolo Maldini completed the previous top three with 23 appearances. All three of these enjoyed brilliant careers but they were usurped in Qatar.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) began the 2022 FIFA World Cup on 19 appearances and owing to his side progressing to the final, he became the most-capped player of all-time in World Cups having featured against France in the showpiece. He cemented his place in history by lifting trophy in his record-breaking appearance in a game that will live long in the memory for various reasons. In what was the Argentine’s fourth tournament, he finally clinched the trophy that had alluded him and there is a chance that Messi could well extend his appearance record in the United States in 2026.
