All footballers dream of playing for their country and representing it at a big international championship. Some have had the privilege to adorn the national jersey on more than one or several occasions, here are some of the most capped footballers in the history of the sport.
Ahmed Hassan
Ahmed Hassan is the most capped footballer in history. He played a total of 184 matches for Egypt during which he scored 23 goals. He made his debut for the Egyptian national team in 1995 and played his last game in 2012. Throughout his international career, Ahmed Hassan has played in eight Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and has won four of them in 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010. He was elected as the best player of the 2006 championship during which he captained his team and scored four goals in six matches. He spent most of his club career in Turkey and Egypt and had a short spell in Belgium, where he played for Anderlecht.
Ahmed Hassan
Ahmed Hassan is the most capped footballer in history. He played a total of 184 matches for Egypt during which he scored 23 goals. He made his debut for the Egyptian national team in 1995 and played his last game in 2012. Throughout his international career, Ahmed Hassan has played in eight Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and has won four of them in 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010. He was elected as the best player of the 2006 championship during which he captained his team and scored four goals in six matches. He spent most of his club career in Turkey and Egypt and had a short spell in Belgium, where he played for Anderlecht.
Claudio Suárez
Born in 1968 in Texocco, Claudio Suárez is Mexico’s most capped footballer with 177 matches and 6 goals. He represented his country for the first time in 1992 and continued playing for the Mexican national team until 2006. During his career he participated in three World Cups, in 1994, 1998 and 2006. Claudio Suárez missed the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea due to an injury. He spent a large portion of his club career in Mexico where he played for UNAM, Guadalajara and UANL. He ended his football career in 2009 as a player of Chivas USA in the Major League Soccer.
Born in 1968 in Texocco, Claudio Suárez is Mexico’s most capped footballer with 177 matches and 6 goals. He represented his country for the first time in 1992 and continued playing for the Mexican national team until 2006. During his career he participated in three World Cups, in 1994, 1998 and 2006. Claudio Suárez missed the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea due to an injury. He spent a large portion of his club career in Mexico where he played for UNAM, Guadalajara and UANL. He ended his football career in 2009 as a player of Chivas USA in the Major League Soccer.
Iker Casillas
Real Madrid’s former goalkeeper is Spain’s most capped player with 164 appearances to this date. He made this debut for La Furia Española in 2000 and is still part of the team. Since then he has represented his country in four World Cups, four UEFA European Championships and two FIFA Confederations Cups. During his international career, Iker Casillas has won the World Cup in 2010 and the Euro Cup in 2008 and 2012. He currently plays for the Portuguese side, FC Porto, a team which he joined in the summer of 2015 after being part of the legendary Real Madrid Club de Fútbol for a total of 15 years and playing over 700 matches.
Real Madrid’s former goalkeeper is Spain’s most capped player with 164 appearances to this date. He made this debut for La Furia Española in 2000 and is still part of the team. Since then he has represented his country in four World Cups, four UEFA European Championships and two FIFA Confederations Cups. During his international career, Iker Casillas has won the World Cup in 2010 and the Euro Cup in 2008 and 2012. He currently plays for the Portuguese side, FC Porto, a team which he joined in the summer of 2015 after being part of the legendary Real Madrid Club de Fútbol for a total of 15 years and playing over 700 matches.
Mohamed Al-Deayea
Making his international debut in 1993, Mohamed Al-Deayea’s career in the Saudi Arabia national team continued for 13 years, during which he made a total of 178 appearances. He played in four World Cups, two FIFA Confederations Cups and two AFC Asian Cups. The peak of his international career was in 1996 when Saudi Arabia won its third Asian Cup and he was chosen as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, a title that he will once again receive during the next AFC Asian Cup championship in 2000. He has spent his entire club career in the Saudi Professional League playing for the teams of Al-Ta`ee and Al-Hilal.
Making his international debut in 1993, Mohamed Al-Deayea’s career in the Saudi Arabia national team continued for 13 years, during which he made a total of 178 appearances. He played in four World Cups, two FIFA Confederations Cups and two AFC Asian Cups. The peak of his international career was in 1996 when Saudi Arabia won its third Asian Cup and he was chosen as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, a title that he will once again receive during the next AFC Asian Cup championship in 2000. He has spent his entire club career in the Saudi Professional League playing for the teams of Al-Ta`ee and Al-Hilal.
Lilian Thuram
Lilian Thuram is reputed as one of the best defenders in the modern history of football, a status that can be easily proven by the fact that he is France’s most capped player with 142 appearances. Throughout his international career Thuram has scored only two goals, both during the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup against Croatia. He also was part of the starting eleven who played and defeated Brazil at the final of the aforementioned world cup which has held at one of the largest national stadiums in the world, Stade de France. He has represented his country at three World Cups, four UEFA European Championships and one FIFA Confederations Cup. Thuram has played for four clubs during his career, Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona. After he left Barcelona in 2008, he was on the verge of signing with Parisian side, PSG but a heart condition forced him to retire from football before joining the Paris based team.
Peter Shilton
Peter Hilton’s international debut in 1970 may have been the topic of numerous discussions amongst football experts as he was playing in the lower divisions of English football, but after 19 years and 125 games for the England national team, he became the most capped English footballer. He has played in three World Cups and two UEFA European Championships. During his club career Peter Shilton has played in almost all levels of professional English football and has been part of the following football clubs.
Lilian Thuram is reputed as one of the best defenders in the modern history of football, a status that can be easily proven by the fact that he is France’s most capped player with 142 appearances. Throughout his international career Thuram has scored only two goals, both during the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup against Croatia. He also was part of the starting eleven who played and defeated Brazil at the final of the aforementioned world cup which has held at one of the largest national stadiums in the world, Stade de France. He has represented his country at three World Cups, four UEFA European Championships and one FIFA Confederations Cup. Thuram has played for four clubs during his career, Monaco, Parma, Juventus and Barcelona. After he left Barcelona in 2008, he was on the verge of signing with Parisian side, PSG but a heart condition forced him to retire from football before joining the Paris based team.
Peter Shilton
Peter Hilton’s international debut in 1970 may have been the topic of numerous discussions amongst football experts as he was playing in the lower divisions of English football, but after 19 years and 125 games for the England national team, he became the most capped English footballer. He has played in three World Cups and two UEFA European Championships. During his club career Peter Shilton has played in almost all levels of professional English football and has been part of the following football clubs.
- Leicester City, 1966 – 1974
- Stoke City, 1974 – 1977
- Nottingham Forest, 1977 – 1982
- Southampton, 1982 – 1987
- Derby County, 1987 – 1992
- Plymouth Argyle, 1992 – 1994
- Wimbledon, 1994 – 1995
- Bolton Wanderers, 1995 spring
- Coventry City, 1995 – 1996
- West Ham United, 1996 spring
- Leyton Orient, 1996 – 1997
Marcos Evangelista de Morais
Simply known as Cafu, he is Brazil’s most capped player with 142 matches for the Seleção. His international career began in 1990 during a friendly match against Spain. Since then Cafu has played for Brazil in four World Cups during which he reached three finals and won two titles. He has also participated at four Copa Américas, winning the tournament on two occasions and one FIFA Confederations Cup which he also won. During his 16 years long international career, Cafu has scored five goals for his country. He spent his club career mostly in Brazil and Italy and had a short spell in Spain with the team of Real Zaragoza.
Simply known as Cafu, he is Brazil’s most capped player with 142 matches for the Seleção. His international career began in 1990 during a friendly match against Spain. Since then Cafu has played for Brazil in four World Cups during which he reached three finals and won two titles. He has also participated at four Copa Américas, winning the tournament on two occasions and one FIFA Confederations Cup which he also won. During his 16 years long international career, Cafu has scored five goals for his country. He spent his club career mostly in Brazil and Italy and had a short spell in Spain with the team of Real Zaragoza.
Javier Zanetti
Argentina’s most capped footballer made his debut in 1994 under coach Daniel Passarella in a match against Chile. His international career lasted for a total of 16 years during which he accumulated 143 caps and scored five goals. Zanetti has played in two World Cups, one FIFA Confederations Cup and five Copa Américas and despite his long and rich career he has never managed to win any international accolades. He spent almost his entire club career in Internazionale Milano.
Argentina’s most capped footballer made his debut in 1994 under coach Daniel Passarella in a match against Chile. His international career lasted for a total of 16 years during which he accumulated 143 caps and scored five goals. Zanetti has played in two World Cups, one FIFA Confederations Cup and five Copa Américas and despite his long and rich career he has never managed to win any international accolades. He spent almost his entire club career in Internazionale Milano.