Top 10 Footballers with Most Appearances in World Cup History

Playing in a single FIFA World Cup tournament is a dream for many footballers, but only a remarkable few have appeared at multiple editions of the most-watched football event in the world. Here, our avid readers can take a look at the record for the most appearances in World Cup by match count, showing those who have taken part in the finals across different eras.

The record for most appearances in World Cup is held by 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Messi. The Argentine played 26 matches across five editions, surpassing the previous benchmark held for decades by one of the greatest German footballers ever, Lothar Matthaus, who appeared 25 times in the biggest footballing showpiece. Miroslav Klose stands at 3rd in the list of most appearances in FIFA World Cup history. The legendary striker has made 24 appearances in four tournaments, reflecting his long-term presence on football’s biggest stage.

Matches played in the final tournament stages are included, while qualifiers and other competitions are excluded. The players listed here have demonstrated exceptional longevity, competing at the highest level of international football across multiple World Cups, making this dataset a clear statistical reference for World Cup participation.

Footballers with Most Appearances in FIFA World Cup History