Fluminense Goalkeeper, 45, Breaks Libertadores Record Dating to

At 45 years old, Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio Maciel has become the player with the most appearances in the history of the Copa Libertadores, the premier club competition in Latin America. He played his 114th match in the tournament, surpassing a record that had stood since 1990, held by goalkeeper Ever Hugo Almeida.

Maciel, who already holds the record for the most professional matches in football history, has participated in 13 editions of the Copa Libertadores. His appearances span three Brazilian clubs: one season with Vasco da Gama, eight with Cruzeiro, and four with Fluminense. He lifted the trophy once, in 2023, with Fluminense.

His first match in the competition came in 2001, and he now boasts 29 seasons as a professional player, a career that began in 1997. Maciel is the regular starting goalkeeper for the Rio de Janeiro side and is also the oldest player to have appeared in the Copa Libertadores since the tournament's inception in 1960.

Born in Nobres, in the state of Mato Grosso (central-west Brazil), Maciel is also the player with the most matches in his professional career. According to the Guinness World Records, he surpassed the mark of 1,391 games, previously held by English goalkeeper Peter Shilton, in August 2025.