With millions of hardcore football aficionados from all over the world, the FIFA World Cup is often hailed as one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world. The glorious history of the FIFA World Cup, which spans over decades, has witnessed numerous legendary football players who have displayed their unbeaten wrath on the field and have successfully led their teams to sensational victories at the world’s most prestigious football tournament.
While the FIFA World Cup has majorly been about the iconic football players who have led their team to the coveted titles, it has also been about the players who have made the highest number of appearances in the world’s most decorated football tournament. Have you ever wondered about the top four football players who have made the highest number of FIFA appearances in their glorious careers? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four football players with the most FIFA World Cup appearances.
FIFA World Cup : Top 4 Footballers With Most Appearances
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Lionel Messi – 26 Appearances
The legendary Argentine professional football player Lionel Messi, often regarded as one of the greatest football players of all-time, is at the first spot in our list of the top four legendary football players who have made the highest number of appearances at the FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi made his star-studded World Cup debut at the age of eighteen and appeared in a total of 26 World Cup matches from 2006 to 2002 which continues to be the highest aggregate as of September 2025.
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Throughout his glorious World Cup career so far, Lionel Messi has scored a record total of 13 goals and has also clinched the prestigious Golden Ball award twice in his career in the years 2014 and 2022.
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Lothar Mattäus – 25 Appearances
At the second spot on our list of the top four football players with the most FIFA World Cup appearances, we have the German former professional football player and manager Lothar Mattäus, who successfully captained West Germany to victory in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and was awarded with the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. Throughout his star-studded professional football career that lasted for almost a decade, Lothar Matthäus made a record total of 25 World Cup appearances across five different editions, which continues to be the second-highest number of World Cup appearances ever made by a professional football player as of September 2025.
Often hailed as one of the most decorated professional football players of his era, Lothar Matthäus remains the only German professional football player to clinch the coveted Ballon d’Or award, speaking volumes about his unmatched legacy in the game.
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Miroslav Klose – 24 Appearances
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four legendary football players who have made the highest number of appearances at the FIFA World Cup, we have the trailblazing German former professional football player and manager Miroslav Klose, who is currently serving as the head coach of 1. FC Nuremberg.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all-time, Miroslav Klose made a total of 24 appearances at the FIFA World Cup, which continues to be the third-highest total of appearances in the world’s most prestigious football tournament as of September 2025. Additionally, with a total of 16 goals, the German football sensation Miroslav Klose is also hailed as one of the top goalscorers in the history of the World Cup.
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Cristiano Ronaldo – 22 Appearances
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four football players with the most FIFA World Cup appearances, we have the legendary Portuguese professional football player Cristiano Ronaldo, who is often regarded as the “G.O.A.T” (Greatest Of All-Time) player of all-time. Often popularly referred to as “CR7” by millions of his hardcore fans and followers from all around the world, Cristiano Ronaldo has witnessed one of the most dominant World Cup careers and has made a record total of 22 appearances across five editions in the years 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 throughout his glorious career so far.
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Additionally, as of September 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be the only professional football player to have scored in all the five editions of the World Cup that he has played so far, speaking volumes about his unmatched legacy in the game.
