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Fluminense fans had a massive cause of celebration when their team won 2-0 over Colombia’s America de Cali in the last 16 of the Copa Sudamericana at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The players of the side, including 40-year-old Thiago Silva, joined the celebration. However, the reported cause highlighting this camaraderie was also due to another occasion.
As per Fluminense's claim, their Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel surpassed former England international Peter Shilton’s long-standing record for the most competitive appearances in the sport’s history. The 44-year-old Fluminense shot-stopper achieved this monumental milestone by making his 1,391st appearance against America de Cali.
“It is a great satisfaction to reach this record wearing the shirt of Fluminense,” Fabio said in a post-match interview after breaking the record, which was previously held by Shilton for nearly three decades. The Maracana crowd reportedly erupted in chants of “Fabio is the best goalkeeper in Brazil”, as the 44-year-old stood tall between the posts, keeping a clean sheet in the crucial Copa Sudamericana clash.
Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel’s international experience is limited to FIFA U-17 World Cup
Despite his domestic dominance, Fabio never earned a senior cap for Brazil’s national team, with his international experience limited to the 1997 FIFA Under-17 World Cup alongside Ronaldinho and the 1999 Under-20 FIFA World Cup semi-finals. Yet, his club-level consistency is unmatched. According to a report, Fabio played 5,850 minutes in the 12 months from July 2024, averaging 65 matches, a figure unprecedented for a goalkeeper of his age. His contract extension with Fluminense until December 2026, when he will be 46, hints towards a speculation that his record may grow even further.
Over his 28-year career, Fabio has remained exclusively in Brazil, representing five clubs, Uniao Bandeirante (30 appearances), Atletico Paranaense (no senior appearances), Vasco da Gama (150 appearances), Cruzeiro (976 appearances), and Fluminense (235 appearances as of August 20, 2025). With their victory, Fluminense has advanced to the next stage in the Copa Sudamericana.
