Fluminense keeper Fabio breaks Shilton appearance record

Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel has surgery nan grounds held by erstwhile England world Peter Shilton for astir competitory appearances successful world football, says his nine Fluminense.

The 44-year-old made his 1,391st quality successful nan past 16 of nan Copa Sudamericana - nan South American balanced of nan Europa League - beating America de Cali 2-0 astatine nan Maracana.

Fabio made his master debut successful 1997 and has spent his full profession successful Brazil, representing Uniao Bandeirante, Atletico Paranaense, Vasco da Gama, Cruzeiro and Fluminense.

Most of his appearances came astatine Cruzeiro (976) betwixt 2005 and 2022 while he made 150 for Vasco da Gama and 30 for Uniao Bandeirante.

His record-breaking outing connected Tuesday was his 235th lucifer for Fluminense.

According to nan Guinness Book of Records, Shilton held nan grounds pinch 1,390 appearances but he claims he has played 1,387 (three fewer), external.

But Fabio, who has ne'er played for his state contempt winning nan Under-17 World Cup successful 1997, is only being recognised by his nine arsenic nan outright grounds holder now that he has passed nan 1,390 tally.

There were questions astir nan existent number Fabio was chasing.

Shilton, now 75, is recorded arsenic having played 1,249 games successful his nine profession and a grounds 125 England appearances, taking him to 1,374 appearances.

According to England Football Online, external, Shilton played 13 times for England Under-23s, which would return america to nan 1,387 tally Shilton believes he has.

Whether nan 13 should count arsenic a elder quality is up for statement but Fluminense person now claimed nan grounds for their goalkeeper, external.

The nine and fans paid tribute to Fabio earlier and aft nan lucifer successful Brazil while he wore a garment pinch a typical spot to observe nan milestone.

"I person to convey everyone who is portion of my life - my father, my mother, my sisters, my friends, my wife. I effort to beryllium a bully quality being," he said.

"The important point is to thief my team-mates. I americium grateful, but without God thing would beryllium possible."

Fabio joined Fluminense successful 2022 and won nan Copa Libertadores nan pursuing twelvemonth erstwhile they hit Boca Juniors successful nan final.

He besides started each six games astatine nan Club World Cup arsenic Fluminense reached nan semi-finals but mislaid to eventual winners Chelsea.

He made history astatine nan tourney successful nan United States pinch a record-breaking 507th cleanable expanse - overtaking erstwhile Italy world Gianluigi Buffon.

In May, Fluminense handed Fabio a statement hold to support him astatine nan nine until December 2026, by which clip he will beryllium 46.

Mani Djazmi - BBC Sport reporter

Simone Inzaghi stood aghast while Kalidou Koulibaly's celebrations died mid-roar.

On nan floor, a 44-year-old man was defying nan listen of a dense landing to bounce backmost up.

He was Fabio, nan lithe goalkeeper of Fluminense. He had conscionable pulled disconnected 1 of nan saves of nan Club World Cup - swiping Koulibaly's powerful, angled header past nan station pinch his near manus successful Flu's quarter-final triumph against Al-Hilal.

Fluminense are only Fabio's 5th nine successful his 28-year profession - 16 of his team-mates were calved aft his master debut.

His only world experiences came past century, erstwhile he won nan 1997 Under-17s World Cup, pinch Ronaldinho a team-mate, and reached nan semi-finals of nan under-20 type 2 years later.

His back-up past was Julio Cesar, who went connected to triumph nan Champions League pinch Inter Milan and whom Fabio could ne'er dislodge from nan nationalist team.

But Julio Cesar, a twelvemonth older than Fabio, retired successful 2018.

Meanwhile Fabio, according to nan CIES Football Observatory, played 5,850 minutes of shot successful 12 months from July 2024. That's an mean of 65 matches, much than immoderate keeper has ever played successful a almanac year.

But really fitting to person marked this eventual grounds astatine nan iconic Maracana Stadium.