Who Has Made the Most World Cup Appearances? Men’s & Women’s Records

The FIFA World Cup is football's most famous and widely viewed knockout tournament. Pitting the planet's best international teams against each other, it consistently delivers drama and quality in equal measure.

It's the pinnacle of the sport; and over the years, many players have shone at the tournament, making history with dazzling performances at the highest level.

But which players in history have made the most appearances at the World Cup Finals?

Lionel Messi holds the men’s record with 26 FIFA World Cup appearances, while Kristine Lilly of the United States leads all players in history with 30 appearances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The full lists below cover the 15 male players with 20 or more World Cup matches and the four women with the most appearances of all time. All figures are correct ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This is the question we'll be answering in this article, as we work our way through the men's players with the most World Cup appearances in history, before moving on to a roundup of the players who have played the most games at the Women's World Cup.

How Often Is The FIFA World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup is a quadrennial tournament, meaning that it takes place every four years.

Each edition of the tournament is hosted in a different country, with organisers FIFA rotating the hosting rights between various countries across the world: including the upcoming 2026 tournament, recent hosts have included the US, Mexico, Canada, Qatar, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, and Germany.

The fact that the World Cup only takes place every four years means that making even one appearance at the world's most prestigious knockout tournament is a huge achievement.

To play at multiple World Cup games requires a player to be at the top of their game for years, competing with the best in their country and proving they can deal with the pressure that comes with this famous old competition. 

To play at three or more separate tournaments means having an international career that spans 12 years or more, a remarkable feat that very few players manage.

It's not impossible, though; there are a number of players who have taken to the field at several tournaments, and in the next section of this article, we'll be breaking down who has the most appearances of all.

Which Player Has The Most FIFA World Cup Appearances?

There are 15 players who have made 20 or more appearances at the World Cup. Below is a full list of these elite international stars.

#9. Grzegorz Lato (Poland)

In total, there are seven players tied in ninth place, each of them with a total of 20 World Cup appearances to their name. That's a seriously impressive tally: prior to the restructured 2026 tournament, the maximum number of games an individual could play at a World Cup was seven, meaning each of these seven appeared at three different tournaments (or more, in some cases).

The first two players on this list to achieve this feat were both Poles who featured in the 'golden generation' teams of the 1970s and '80s, with winger Grzegorz Lato playing at the 1974, 1978 and 1982 tournaments. 

#9. Philipp Lahm (Germany)

A dependable leader who captained his national team over 50 times (and played 113 international matches in total), Philipp Lahm is one of the best German players of the 21st century.

After a remarkably successful domestic and international career, he retired on a massive high, hanging up his boots after lifting the World Cup trophy in Brazil in 2014.

#9. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)

Lahm's countryman was a dynamic, combative central midfielder, and a key player for Bayern Munich during multiple glorious periods in the 2000s and 2010s.

As well as winning eight domestic titles, Schweinsteiger also played 20 World Cup games and was instrumental in getting Germany over the line in the 2014 World Cup final.

#9. Antoine Griezmann (France)

Evidently, the number of World Cup games a player can rack up depends on how successful their nation is at the Finals; so given France's international success in recent years, it's no surprise to see their star playmaker Antoine Griezmann in this list.

The Atletico legend played a pivotal role in Les Bleus winning the 2018 World Cup and had some magical moments as they reached the final again four years later.

#9. Hugo Lloris (France)

France relied on Hugo Lloris between the sticks throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, a period in which they were one of the world's most dominant forces.

The tall, imposing shotstopper helped lead them to World Cup glory in 2018 and made his 20th World Cup appearance at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

#9. Cafu (Brazil)

One of the earliest full-backs to be valued mainly as an attacking asset, Cafu was ever-present in Brazil's iconic teams of the 1990s and 2000s (their most successful era since the days of Pelé).

In this period, Cafu played at four World Cups and helped the Selecao to glory in both 1994 and 2002.

#9. Javier Mascherano (Argentina)

A dependable, versatile player who could operate either as a defensive midfielder or centre-back, Mascherano was a huge player for Argentina during the 2000s and 2010s, his reliability on the biggest stage meaning that he played in 20 World Cup matches across his career.

#6. Diego Maradona (Argentina)

Few Argentines enjoyed a better international career than Mascherano, but Diego Maradona — a World Cup winner and for many, the greatest footballer who ever lived — is certainly in that category. El Diego appeared at four tournaments between 1982 and 1994, peaking at Mexico '86 when he sparked a historic run to the final, captaining his side and winning the Golden Ball for best player at the tournament.

#6. Uwe Seeler (West Germany)

Uwe Seeler was born too late for one golden German generation (the 1954 World Cup-winning team) and too early for the team that dominated during the 1970s, but his 21 World Cup appearances and 43 international goals mean he's still remembered as one of the country's greats.

#6. Władysław Żmuda (Poland)

A rock at the back for Poland during their golden years, Żmuda racked up a total of 21 World Cup appearances between 1974 and 1986, more than any other Polish player during this period.

#5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

CR7's longevity as a player has broken the boundaries of what many fans thought possible; at 41, he is still a key player for his national side, over 1,300 games and almost 24 years after making his professional debut. At the time of writing, he's played for Portugal at five different World Cups, making a total of 22 appearances.

#4. Paolo Maldini (Italy)

One of Italy's all-time greats, Paolo Maldini played at four World Cups and three European Championships in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. With 23 appearances, he's the most capped player to have never lifted the trophy, despite reaching the final in '94.

#3. Miroslav Klose (Germany)

A goal off the bench at the 2014 Brazil World Cup helped German striker Miroslav Klose secure his status as the tournament's all-time top goalscorer.

With 16 goals across four tournaments, he's the most clinical finisher the World Cup has ever seen, and that longevity also allowed him to become the competition's third-most-capped player, with 24 appearances in total.

#2. Lothar Matthäus (Germany)

The most capped German player of all time, Matthäus is regarded as a true great of the European game, his displays at five separate World Cups helping to turn Germany into one the most successful forces in the history of the tournament.

Between 1982 and 1998, he made a total of 25 appearances at the FIFA World Cup and played a pivotal role in West Germany's 1990 triumph (which was also his third World Cup final in a row). 

#1. Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Many modern fans view Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer in history, a stance aided heavily by the Argentine's decisive role in leading his country to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022 (the IFFHS even named him the GOAT after the tournament).

Historic runs to the World Cup final in 2014 and 2022 helped Messi rack up a whopping 26 appearances at FIFA's flagship tournament, and in North America in 2026, he's expected to play at a record sixth World Cup.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the expanded 48-team format raising the maximum number of games per player from seven to eight. A deep run from Argentina would let Messi add several appearances to his all-time total and put real daylight between him and Matthäus's 25 in second place.

Which Women Players Have The Most World Cup Appearances?

There are a number of female players who have also developed incredible reputations playing at the World Cup. Below are the players who have made the most appearances of all at the competition.

#3. Carli Lloyd (US)

In 2019, the USWNT claimed their first World Cup trophy since the legendary '99ers team, and Carli Lloyd was the driving force behind it, scoring in every single knockout game including the final.

Her displays at this tournament helped contribute to a total of 25 appearances made at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

#3. Abby Wambach (US)

Another member of the 2015 World Cup-winning squad, legendary forward Abby Wambach is the USWNT's all-time top goalscorer, thanks in part to her excellent longevity: across four tournaments, she made a total of 25 World Cup appearances.

#2. Formiga (Brazil)

No player in football history — male or female — can top Brazil midfielder Formiga's record of playing at seven separate World Cups.

Her gametime at the prestigious tournament spans an incredible 24 years from 1995 to 2019, but Brazil's inconsistency in terms of getting deep into tournaments in this period means her 27 appearances are beaten by one illustrious international player.

#1. Kristine Lilly (US)

Playing for the USWNT throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Kristine Lilly enjoyed a huge amount of success, never failing to reach the semi-finals of the tournament and securing a whopping total of 30 World Cup appearances. She's regarded as one of the best US soccer players in history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has played in the most FIFA World Cups?

Brazil’s Formiga has played in more World Cups than any other footballer, appearing at seven separate Women’s World Cup tournaments between 1995 and 2019. On the men’s side, the joint record is five tournaments, held by Antonio Carbajal (Mexico, 1950–66), Lothar Matthäus (1982–98), Gianluigi Buffon (1998–2014), Rafael Márquez (2002–18), Cristiano Ronaldo (2006–22) and Lionel Messi (2006–22). Messi is on course to take the men’s record outright if he plays at the 2026 World Cup.

How many World Cup appearances does Lionel Messi have?

Lionel Messi has 26 FIFA World Cup appearances, the most by any male player in history. He has reached two finals (a runner-up with Argentina in 2014 and a winner in 2022) and is expected to feature at his sixth tournament at the 2026 World Cup in North America. Each additional appearance widens his lead at the top of the all-time men’s list.

Has anyone played at seven different World Cups?

Yes — Brazilian midfielder Formiga is the only player in football history, men’s or women’s, to have appeared at seven separate FIFA World Cups. She featured at every Women’s World Cup from 1995 to 2019, spanning 24 years of international football and making her the longest-serving World Cup player of all time.

Who has the most World Cup appearances for England?

Peter Shilton holds England’s record for most FIFA World Cup appearances, with 17 matches across three tournaments (1982, 1986 and 1990). No English player has reached the global top 15 for total appearances — a reflection of how rarely the Three Lions have advanced deep into the tournament since their 1966 win.

Want to find out more about the most prestigious knockout tournament in world football? Check out our in-depth guide to the FIFA World Cup trophy.

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