NIn the early part of the century since the first FIFA World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, hundreds of matches have been played in all competitions, and only a select group of legends have been able to survive, racking up appearances and now becoming part of the historical record.
With less than 75 days left until the start of this new edition of the tournament, let’s take a look at which players have made the most appearances in the field.
Top 5 soccer players with the most World Cup appearances
Current world champion Lionel Messi tops the list of players with the most appearances in World Cup history, having appeared in 26 games since appearing in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 (winner).
Germany’s Lothar Matthäus, who played one game less than the Albiceleste captain, played 25 games in five World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998), demonstrating his leadership and reliability within the team.
Third place went to Miroslav Klose, who played in 24 tournaments, including the 2002 Korea-Japan Championships, the 2006 Germany Games, the 2010 South Africa Games, and the 2014 Brazil Games, where he was crowned champion. Furthermore, he is the top scorer in the competition’s history with 16 goals for Germany.
Fourth place with 23 appearances is defender Paolo Maldini, who played in Italy in 1990, USA in 1994, France in 1998 and Japan-Korea in 2002.
Rounding out the top five, Cristiano Ronaldo has finished on the podium a total of 22 times in Germany in 2006, South Africa in 2010, Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018, and Qatar in 2022.
Furthermore, Cristiano, Lionel and Lothar are part of a select group of players who have participated in five World Cup tournaments (2006-2022), a record that ranks alongside Antonio Carvajal, Andres Guardado and Rafael Murquez.
The list continues with icons such as Argentina’s Diego Maradona and Brazil’s Kahu, both of whom have played more than 20 games, a figure that reflects the World Cup’s lasting impact across generations.
This ranking therefore serves to remember and recognize those who have left an indelible mark on the most important tournament on the planet for generations. Now, CR7 and Messi can further extend their achievements and continue to make history in the tournament to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11th to July 19th.
Top 5 players with the most appearances:
Lionel Messi – Argentina – 26 appearances Lothar Matthäus – Germany – 25 appearances Miroslav Klose – Germany – 24 appearances Paolo Maldini – Italy – 23 appearances Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal – 22 appearances
