Still,
consistency is vital in
football, as it ensures your presence at many significant
matches for your
club or country. Due to their stamina, many top players have competed in a huge number of games. You could probably list dozens of high-caliber athletes. The list now includes Lionel Messi, who recently played against Australia in his 1000th match for club and country in the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Without further ado, here are the ten players in football history who have made the most appearances in soccer history for both their club and country.
These are
The Players Who Played The Most In Football History. 9. Gianluigi Buffon With 1135
Source: Getty Images
The ex-Juve player played until he was 40 years old, but only if there are matches Buffon's lifespan. With a debut for Parma in 1995, Buffon has become a dependable goalkeeper for Juventus, playing in 656 games for them and earning the title of Serie A's goalkeeper of the year for his efforts. Buffon won every major title there was to win while playing for Parma, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain, but he was never able to take home the Champions League.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo With 1147
Source: Getty Images
Despite being 37 years old, Ronaldo is still one of Europe's top players and contributes to his team in every game. Both at Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid, Ronaldo quickly climbed the ranks. At the tender age of eighteen, he made his United debut, and the rest, as they say, is a legend. Throughout his career, he made 342 appearances for Manchester United and 438 appearances for Real Madrid, winning every imaginable club trophy with both teams.
7. Ray Clemence With 1164
Source: Getty Images
Clemence was one of 31 players in Liverpool's history to play in over 1000 games in all competitions. He has the football record for most shutouts (460). Clemence made 758 appearances over his career with Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, and Tottenham, winning the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, and Premier League. Clemence also played in 61 matches for his country's national team.
6. Tommy Hutchison With 1177
Source: Getty Images
Tommy Hutchison was a steady midfielder who played for many teams until his retirement. He will always be remembered as a legend for Coventry City. All of his team's titles were won when Tommy Hutchison was on the field for his club in 983 games.
Hutchison, who made his international debut with Scotland in 1973 but only played for the team for five years before retiring in 1975, is another player who has played for both their club and country the most.
5. Frantisek Planicka With 1186
Source: Getty Images
In the 1990s, Frantisek was a top goalkeeper. He was a Czechoslovak legend who played all 969 professional games for Slavia Praha and only briefly for other teams. In the annals of Czechoslovak football, Frantisek stands as the all-time leader in individual honors. He participated in 73 international matches, including the World Cup, where he insisted on playing despite suffering a devastating injury.
4. Fabio With 1212
Source: Getty Images
Fabio only played professionally in Brazil, never making it to a European team. He has played for several different Brazilian clubs and is one of the few professional football players still active today. He's Cruzeiro's all-time leading scorer with 789 points and has worn the jersey 789 times. The team he currently plays for is Fluminense. despite having played for many Brazilian teams but never made it to the Brazilian national squad.
3. Rogerio Ceni With 1237
Source: Getty Images
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics recognizes Rogerio Ceni as the goalkeeper with the most goals scored in football history, making him one of the best goalkeepers of all time. Throughout his 25-year professional career, Ceni made 1237 appearances for his club, So Paulo, and helped them win 20 major titles.
2. Paul Bastock With 1286
Source: Getty Images
Over 1,286 league and cup appearances, primarily in the English lower leagues, make Paul Bastock the second most prolific player in football history. Cambridge United, Boston United, Rushden & Diamonds, and St. Albans City are just a few of the 20 clubs Bastock has represented since making his professional debut in 1988. He only played once for the national team, in an unofficial game against a Highland League selection.
1. Peter Shilton With 1375
Source: Getty Images
Shilton played for 11 different clubs over 30 years, and he holds the record for most club appearances (nearly 1000) among all football players. Even though he won two European Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, the First Division championship, and the Football League Cup during his career, his best years were spent with Nottingham Forest.