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Players with the Most Matches Played at the World Cup

For many elite footballers, appearing in a FIFA World Cup is a career-defining achievement; however, maintaining the form and fitness required to compete across multiple tournaments is a feat reserved for an exclusive group. The players listed below represent the pinnacle of longevity, bridging different eras of the sport through their consistent presence on the global stage. Currently, the record for the most appearances is held by Lionel Messi, who played in 34 matches across six different tournaments.

Argentina scores in 1968. Image: El Grafico of October 8, 1968. Edition 2557
Argentina scores in 1968. Image: from the cover of El Grafico of October 8, 1968. Edition 2557

Top-10 List of the Players with the Most World Cup Appearances

Record holder Lionel Messi played in his sixth World Cup in 2026. Cristiano Ronaldo also added to his match tally in 2026. Here are the game totals up to and including 2026.

# Games Player Country
1 34 Lionel Messi Argentina
2 27 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal
3 25 Lothar Matthäus Germany
4 24 Miroslav Klose Germany
=5 23 Paolo Maldini Italy
=5 23 Luka Modrić Croatia
=5 23 Manuel Neuer Germany
8 22 Kylian Mbappé France
=9 21 Uwe Seeler Germany
=9 21 Diego Maradona Argentina
=9 21 Wladyslaw Zmuda Poland
=9 21 Thibaut Courtois Belgium
=9 21 Nicolás Otamendi Argentina
=9 21 Ivan Perišić Croatia

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