Featuring at a World Cup is universally acknowledged to be the pinnacle of any footballer’s career, as it confirms they’re capable of competing at the very highest level the sport has to offer.
Therefore, racking up a significant number of World Cup appearances demonstrates that a player possesses the requisite qualities – encompassing technical skill, physical fitness, and mental resilience – to consistently deliver an elite standard of performance over an extended period of time.
As a result, it’s no coincidence that those who participate most regularly in prestigious competitions are often considered to be legends of the game. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the best players to have ever graced a football pitch possess the largest volume of international caps.
A range of factors may affect how frequently even the finest footballers play, such as injuries, squad depth, and the tactical inclinations of their managers. Nevertheless, it’s equally important to recognise that nationality can also have a decisive impact here.
By representing countries that traditionally struggle to qualify for major tournaments, a handful of the planet’s best-ever players were never given the opportunity to perform on the greatest stage of them all.
The likes of Welshman Ian Rush, former Liberian president George Weah, and perhaps most famously Northern Ireland’s George Best concluded their careers without a single World Cup appearance, largely as a consequence of where they were born.
It's therefore unsurprising to note that the five players with the most World Cup appearances all represented (or continue to represent) successful nations.
1. Lionel Messi – 26 appearances
2. Lothar Matthäus – 25 appearances
3. Miroslav Klose – 24 appearances
4. Paolo Maldini – 23 appearances
5. Cristiano Ronaldo – 22 appearances
We explore how each of these players came to accumulate the above number of appearances, citing their efforts at every World Cup they participated in.
The age of the G.O.A.Ts
Over the course of the last two decades, two players have redefined the boundaries of sporting greatness. Locked in a perpetual battle for superiority throughout this ongoing timeframe, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to push each other to extraordinary heights.
Both of these modern greats have broken a seemingly endless list of goalscoring and assists records, while picking up a steady stream of personal and team accolades.
Such has been the extent of their domination that the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony developed into a straight shootout between the gifted pair.
Although their influence has waned slightly in recent years as they enter the twilight stage of their glittering careers, the shadows of Messi and Ronaldo still loom large over the footballing world.
This summer is set to be the final chapter in this era-defining rivalry, as the two men prepare to captain their respective countries at a major tournament for the final time.
It remains to be seen whether Argentina and Portugal will clash in North America, but, whatever happens, it’s likely both players will add at least a few more World Cup appearances to their already colossal haul...
Lionel Messi
Just over a week before celebrating his nineteenth birthday in the summer of 2006, Lionel Messi enjoyed a memorable World Cup debut.
Having been introduced with fifteen minutes remaining of Argentina’s group stage meeting with Serbia and Montenegro, Messi claimed a goal and an assist in his country’s thumping 6-0 win.
The talented teenager made a further two appearances – against the Netherlands and Mexico – after that impressive cameo in Gelsenkirchen, but watched on from the bench as his teammates were knocked out by Germany at the quarter-final stage following a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.
It was a very similar story four years later, as La Albiceleste – this time under the charismatic stewardship of native hero Diego Maradona – lost their quarter-final clash with Germany after defeating Mexico in the Round of 16.
This is the only World Cup in which Messi failed to score, but he did manage to register an important assist in South Africa. The former Barcelona star set up Carlos Tevez’s early opener in Johannesburg, helping Argentina on their way to a 3-1 triumph over the Mexicans.
By the time 2014 rolled around, Messi had become a four-time Ballon d’Or recipient and was now scoring with unnerving regularity.
The latter development was instantly evident in Brazil, as Messi netted in each of Argentina’s opening three contests. The pint-sized attacker didn’t manage to find the net after his brace against Nigeria in his country’s last group game, but nevertheless delivered a series of stunning displays throughout the remainder of the tournament.
Although it would only have provided a small crumb of comfort in the wake of Mario Götze’s iconic extra-time strike, Messi was awarded the Golden Ball.
Further disappointment was to come in Russia, as Argentina crashed out in the last sixteen following an exhilarating contest with eventual winners France. Messi recorded two assists that day – firstly watching Gabriel Mercado deflect his left-footed effort past Hugo Lloris before angling a delicious delivery onto the grateful head of Sergio Agüero – but couldn’t prevent his country’s elimination.
With many suggesting he could never eclipse Maradona’s status in the game if a World Cup winner's medal continued to evade him, Messi arrived in Qatar to a pressure-cooker environment. However, the Rosario-born genius was, as ever, ready to handle the astronomic level of expectation placed upon him.
Although you somehow got the distinct impression that their success was written in the stars, Argentina could hardly have started any more poorly. After Messi stroked home from the spot to break the deadlock against the unfancied Saudi Arabians, Lionel Scaloni’s men wilted to a 2-1 defeat.
Led by their highly influential captain, they then eased past Mexico (with Messi both scoring and assisting) and Poland to set up a Round of 16 tie with Australia. Messi hit his third goal of the tournament in a tight encounter with the Socceroos before doubling his team’s lead over the Netherlands, although Wout Weghorst’s dramatic late brace forced the match beyond regulation time.
In the subsequent penalty shootout, the four-time Champions League winner nonsculently rolled the ball home after Virgil van Dijk saw his powerful effort saved by Emiliano Martínez. Another fantastic stop from the Villa 'keeper – this time diving to his left to block Steven Berghuis’ attempt – helped Argentina secure safe passage through to the semi-final.
A third successfully converted penalty from Messi handed the Argentinians an early lead over surprise semi-finalists Croatia, before Julián Alvarez’s double put the match out of sight.
At some stages in the final, it felt as if Kylian Mbappé’s scintillating performance signified a changing of the guard. Was the Frenchman’s remarkable hat-trick an indication that Messi’s moment had now passed? The answer is a resounding no.
Although Mbappé had already taken up the mantle of being the world’s best player ahead of that gripping 2022 showpiece, it would nevertheless be Messi’s night in Lusail.
Having once again opened the scoring and later put Argentina ahead in extra-time, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain ace casually dispatched his penalty in the shootout.
Gonzalo Montiel would be the hero on the night after netting the all-important spot kick, but the headlines only belonged to one man. Messi had finally got his hands on the revered Jules Rimet trophy, leading many to conclude that the left-footed magician was now the undisputed greatest of all time.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo burst onto the international scene at the 2004 European Championships in his native Portugal, but it didn’t take him long to demonstrate his remarkable capabilities on the world stage.
Two years on from that electric major tournament debut, a fresh-faced Ronaldo helped his country deliver their best performance at a World Cup since 1966, when Eusébio’s nine goals propelled Portugal to a third-place finish.
In addition to firing home a crucial spot-kick during the closing minutes of Portugal’s group stage victory over Iran, he netted the decisive penalty in the quarter-final shootout against Sven-Göran Eriksson’s England.
Having landed in South Africa following a spectacular first season in the Spanish capital, Ronaldo was expected to light up the 2010 World Cup.
However, it didn’t quite work out that way for the Real Madrid star. In between 0-0 stalemates with the Ivory Coast and Brazil, CR7 registered a goal and an assist in the hammering of Group G whipping boys North Korea.
That impressive attacking display turned out to be his only significant contribution, as Portugal were ousted at the Round of 16 stage by eventual winners Spain.
Ronaldo had an even shorter window to make an impact in Brazil, as Portugal failed to emerge from a proverbial Group of Death.
After being unable to prevent a heavy loss to Germany on the opening matchday, the fleet-footed attacker set up Silvestre Varela’s vital injury-time equaliser against the USA to keep hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive.
Despite netting late on in Portugal’s 2-1 triumph over Ghana, Ronaldo’s dramatic 80th-minute winner proved futile as the Americans’ superior goal difference saw them through.
Another early exit in 2018 would once again serve to restrict Ronaldo’s influence at a World Cup, but he undoubtedly seized the limited opportunities he had to make an impression.
The five-time Ballon d’Or recipient hit a remarkable hat-trick during Portugal’s clash with Spain, as the Iberian neighbours produced a six-goal thriller at the Fisht Olympic Stadium. Ronaldo netted at the beginning and end of the first half, before lashing a stunning late free-kick past a helpless David de Gea to ensure the Seleção took a share of the spoils in Sochi.
He would then head home the only goal in a narrow win over Morocco five days later, but Portugal’s fate was sealed in the last sixteen for the second time in three tournaments as Uruguay progressed to the quarter-finals at their expense.
Although the early omens in Qatar were positive for Portugal’s prized asset, things quickly began to unravel. Ronaldo won and subsequently converted a penalty to spark a chaotic ending to the tournament’s final first-round group game, as Ghana were unlucky to lose 3-2 at the unique Stadium 974.
However, having vented his anger at Head Coach Fernando Santos after being withdrawn midway through the second half of a sobering loss to South Korea, Ronaldo was dropped from Portugal’s starting line-up – the first time this had occurred in a major tournament since the 2008 European Championships – for the Round of 16 meeting with Switzerland.
He was also named amongst the substitutes ahead of Portugal’s shock quarter-final loss to Morocco, ensuring Messi stole all of the limelight from that moment onward.
Despite acquiring three major honours en route to becoming the most productive international goalscorer in history, Ronaldo will still feel he has unfinished business in a Portuguese shirt.
A series of early eliminations and the well-documented dispute with Santos last time out have somewhat tainted his World Cup legacy, so the current Al-Nassr striker will be desperate to go out with a bang in North America.
The remaining legends
Lothar Matthäus
Few players have contributed to their country’s long-term success to the same extent as Lothar Matthäus, who featured for Germany at four World Cups throughout an extraordinary international career.
The versatile midfielder embarked on his maiden World Cup campaign in 1982, although he only made a couple of fleeting substitute appearances early on in the competition.
He watched from the bench as his teammates navigated their way through the latter stages, before collecting a runners-up medal following Germany’s 3-1 defeat to Italy at the Santiago Bernabéu.
There was further heartbreak four years later, as a Maradona-inspired Argentina outfit put Germany to the sword in the 1986 World Cup final. A couple of weeks before that iconic showpiece at the Azteca, Matthäus rifled a superb free-kick beyond Moroccan ‘keeper Ezzaki Badou to claim his first-ever World Cup goal.
However, the stars were certainly aligned in 1990. With the tournament scheduled just several months after the country’s reunification, Germany secured an emotional World Cup triumph on Italian soil.
Matthäus unsurprisingly played a starring role as Die Mannschaft’s unflappable skipper, starting every one of his team’s seven fixtures and netting four goals along the way.
The former Bayern Munich hero then captained his country to the quarter-finals of the last World Cup to be staged in North America, before achieving continental glory at Euro 96.
With his influence slowly beginning to wane, Matthäus made his 25th and final appearance at FIFA’s most prestigious international tournament in France, as Germany once again bowed out in the last eight.
Miroslav Klose
Although most will remember Miroslav Klose for his extraordinary goalscoring exploits at major tournaments, it’s also important to recognise his immense experience and longevity. The current Nürnberg boss featured at no less than four World Cups, racking up a staggering 24 appearances in the process.
After a remarkable run of five headed finishes – with three of these coming in an 8-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia on his World Cup debut – earned him the Silver Boot in 2002, Klose went one better four years later.
Another return of five goals was this time enough to clinch the top scorer award, as the Polish-born marksman helped his adopted country clinch third place on native soil.
He was then back amongst the goals in South Africa, netting four times despite receiving a one-match suspension after being given his marching orders against Serbia on matchday two.
Following consecutive third-placed finishes, Germany clinched a fourth World Cup triumph in 2014 as Klose bid farewell to international football.
However, before adorning the famous white jersey for the very last time, the former Lazio star became the World Cup’s all-time top scorer after claiming his 16th goal in Germany’s astonishing 7-1 rout of hosts Brazil.
Paolo Maldini
A pillar of enduring excellence, Paolo Maldini approached his club and international career with the same unwavering loyalty, relentless dedication, and fierce commitment to the cause.
Between 1990 and 2002, Paolo Maldini played every minute of Italy’s five World Cup campaigns. Serving as an impenetrable rock on the left-hand side of the Azzurri defence, the legendary full-back bailed his country out on more than a few occasions.
Maldini marked his 22nd birthday with a fourth consecutive World Cup start, having only made his debut in the competition just over a fortnight earlier.
Although that campaign would ultimately end in disappointment as the hosts suffered a painful penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals, the Milan-born youngster had proven he could mix it with the very best.
USA 94’ and France 98’ brought further anguish, as two further sets of spot-kicks cruelly determined their fate. After playing a pivotal role in his team reaching the final, Maldini – along with thousands of Italian supporters inside the gargantuan Rose Bowl Stadium – watched on in horror as Roberto Baggio ballooned his penalty over the bar to hand Brazil the trophy.
It was a similar story four years later as Luigi Di Biagio saw his penalty cannon off the woodwork in Saint-Denis, confirming Italy’s exit at the quarter-final stage.
Maldini would get one final chance to secure a coveted World Cup success in 2002, but his hopes were soon extinguished in East Asia. A 117th-minute golden goal from South Korean frontman Ahn Jung-hwan put an end to Italy’s journey, as the co-hosts produced a stunning victory in Daejeon.
Despite this sequence of punishing conclusions to his five World Cup campaigns, Maldini will forever be remembered as one of the tournament’s all-time leading lights.
World Cup Appearances: FAQ's
1. Who holds the record for the most appearances in World Cup history?
Lionel Messi. The Argentinian legend has made 26 World Cup appearances throughout his international career.
2. How many players have competed in five different World Cups?
Only six players have featured in five different World Cups - Antonio Carbajal, Andrés Guardado, Rafael Márquez (all Mexico), Lothar Matthäus (Germany), Lionel Messi (Argentina), and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
3. Can Cristiano Ronaldo surpass Lionel Messi's appearance record at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. However, Portugal will likely need to progress a couple of rounds further than Argentina for him to do so. Ronaldo has 22 World Cup appearances, four behind Lionel Messi.
4. Which country has appeared in the most World Cup tournaments?
Brazil are the only team to qualify for all 22 previous World Cups ahead of this summer's edition in North America. Therefore, they are the country with the most appearances at FIFA flagship international tournament.
5. Which goalkeeper has made the most World Cup appearances?
Hugo Lloris. The former Spurs 'keeper racked up 20 World Cup appearances before announcing his international retirement in the wake of France's loss to Argentina in the 2022 final. Lloris claimed a World Cup winners medal in Russia four years earlier.
6. Can Lionel Messi play in a 6th World Cup in 2026?
Yes, Lionel Messi is officially set to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Having already secured Argentina’s qualification, the captain is expected to lead the defending champions in their opening match against Algeria on June 16, 2026, in Kansas City.