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Cristiano Ronaldo might be reaching 100 caps tonight against Northern Ireland, which is very impressive considering he’s only 27, but he’s still got a way to go before becoming Portugal’s most capped player of all time. Luis Figo has 127 at the top, and he’s joined by other big names like Javier Zanetti, Cafu and Fabio Cannavaro as the players with most appearances for the top national teams.
Javier Zanetti (Argentina) – 145 Caps:
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Zanetti, 39, began his international career in 1994, making his debut on November 16 against Chile. He has played for the national team in five Copa America tournaments and two world cups (controversially not getting the call up for 2006 and 2010), scoring 5 goals in the process. He hasn’t played an international match since the 2011 Copa America.Known for his versatility, he is adept on both the left and right wing, having played on both flanks as a fullback as well as a winger. He slots into several midfield positions with ease, particularly as a defensive or central midfielder. Internationally, he holds the record of the most capped player in the history of the Argentine national team and has played in the 1996 Olympic tournament and in two World Cups, in 1998 and 2002.
Claudio Suarez (Mexico) – 178 Caps:
He’s joint at second with Mohamed Al-Deayea of Saudi Arabia for most capped players of all time, falling short to Ahmed Hassan of Egypt. Suarez began his career for Mexico in 1992 and was part of three world cup squads, not playing a single minute in 2006, retiring from international football thereafter. He did win three Gold Cups and the 1999 Confederations cup with Mexico, scoring 5 goals in his national team career.
Iker Casillas (Spain) – 141 Caps:
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Part of the Spanish golden generation, winning two Euro tournaments and one world cup, Casillas made his debut for Spain at the age of 19, in 2000, playing against Sweden. He was an unused substitute in Euro 2000, and took Santiago Canizares’ place in the first team before the 2002 world cup, earning his “saint” nickname after the penalty shootout against Ireland. He’s been the Spanish captain since 2008. In 2008 he was on the Spanish team that won their first European Championship in 44 years, the Spanish team that went on to win Spain's first World Cup (a tournament in which he won the Yashin Award) and the 2012 European Championship.Casillas is currently the most capped player in the history of the Spanish national team. Following his full international debut at the senior level on 3 June 2000 against Sweden (at 19 years and 14 days), Casillas was an unused substitute at Euro 2000
Thomas Ravelli (Sweden) – 143 Caps:
The goalkeeper who played most of his career for two clubs (Oster and IFK) in Sweden spent nearly two decades between the posts of the national side, beginning in 1981. He played in two world cups with Sweden, including finishing third in 1994, and was on the goalline in the semifinal appearance in Euro 1992.
Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands) – 130 Caps:
Van der Sar was actually in the 1994 squad to the World Cup, but he didn’t make his international debut until June 1995. He played in three world cups with the Dutch national side and four Euro tournaments, participating in three consecutive tournament elimination matches – Against France in 1996, Brazil in 1998 and Italy in 2000.Van der Sar has won several honours, including Best European Goalkeeper in 1995 and 2009, and UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year in 2009. He is considered, by critics and fellow players, as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson considers him the best goalkeeper to have played for the club since Peter Schmeichel.Van der Sar represented the Dutch national team 130 times, which makes him the country's most capped player.
Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) – 136 Caps:
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| Fabio Cannavaro |
Cannavaro has a 13 cap lead of Gianluigi Buffon, risking his place at the top. Cannavaro played for the national team for the first time in 1997 against Northern Ireland. He participated in four World Cupstournaments, famously captaining Italy to the 2006 trophy, playing a huge part in the defensive excellence of conceding only 2 goals throughout the tournament, one of them an own goal and the second a penalty kick. He scored only two goals for Italy, both in friendly matches. He retired after the 2010 world cup.He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2006, making him only the second defender to win the award alongside Lothar Matthäus, he is however oldest recipient. His Real Madrid profile describes him as being known for his strength, anticipation of the cross, positioning and aerial game. He made his debut with the Italian national team on 22 January 1997, in a friendly game against Northern Ireland. The same year, he earned plaudits for his handling of England striker Alan Shearer in a World Cup qualifying game at Wembley. Shearer was then considered by the fiercely partisan English crowd to be the best striker in the world, and they thought he would make have fun with the unexperienced Italian defender. Nevertheless, in a dominant display that ranked him among the great Italian defenders such as Claudio Gentile and Franco Baresi, Cannavaro managed to keep Shearer quiet during the whole game. Italy won the game 1–0 thanks to a Gianfranco Zola goal.
Lothar Matthäus (Germany) – 150 Caps:
The only outfield player to take part of five world cups, he’s also played in more world cup matches than any else – 25. He’s been to two world cup finals, winning in 1990. He also played in four Euro tournaments, winning one in 1980. He’s scored 23 goals for the national side (both Germany and West Germany), playing his last three matches for the national team in Euro 2000.
Lilian Thuram (France) – 142 Caps:
One of the greatest defensive players of all time, Thuram is currently sixth among European players on the caps charts, having played for France from 1994 to 2008, playing in three world cups (winning in 1998, final in 2006) and four Euro tournaments, retiring after Euro 2008. His only two goals for the national side came in the famous World Cup win against Croatia, coming back from a goal down to win 2-1.
Cafu (Brazil) – 142 Caps:
One of the greatest right backs of all time, Cafu played in three consecutive World Cup Finals (1994, 1998, 2002), winning two of them. He began his Brazil career in 1990, playing against Spain. He holds the record of winning the most number of matches in World Cups with 16. He has scored 5 goals for the national team, playing his final match in the 2006 World Cup.He is the most internationally capped male Brazilian player and also made history playing for São Paulo, Roma and Milan. He, along with Ronaldo are the only two players to have appeared in three World Cup finals, having won two, 1994 and 2002.. He has won two World Cups in 1994 and 2002, as well as being the only player to participate in three World Cup final matches. He holds the record of winning the most number of matches in World Cups with 16.
Luis Figo (Portugal) – 127 Caps:
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| Luis Figo |
Cristiano Ronaldo is reaching 100 caps, and it’s hard to see how he won’t pass Luis Figo’s 127. The legendary winger played for the national side from 1994 to 2006, retiring after the ’06 world cup. He scored 32 goals for Portugal, but none of them in a world cup, playing in two of them. He also played in three Euro tournaments, including finishing as runners-up in 2004..He played as a midfielder forSporting CP, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Internazionale. He retired from football on 31 May 2009. He won 127 caps for the Portuguese national football team, making him the most capped Portuguese player in history. Figo was the 2000 European Footballer of the Year, the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, and was named amongst the FIFA 100.Figo is one of the few football players to have played for both the Spanish rival clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. He had a successful career highlighted by several trophy wins, including the Portuguese Cup, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, four Serie A titles, one Italian Cup and three Italian Super Cups.
Peter Shilton (England) – 125 Caps:
The closest anyone has come to Shilton’s appearance record over the last 40 years is David Beckham, stopped at 115. Shilton also holds the all-time record for the most competitive appearances in world football. He made his debut after the 1970 World Cup, playing in a match against East Germany. He played in three World Cup tournaments with England, including 1986, conceding to the “hand of god” and the “greatest goal ever” and the 1990 tournament, when England reached the semifinal.Shilton did not make his World Cup finals debut until the age of 32 but he played in 17 finals matches and shares the record 10 clean sheets in World Cup finals with French keeper Fabien Barthez. Shilton is also notable for being the goalkeeper that conceded the two goals Diego Maradona scored during the England-Argentina match in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.Shilton was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and later an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) during his playing career for services to football. In 1990, following his retirement from international football, he was awarded the Order of Merit by the PFA and a year later he received the Football Writers' Tribute Award. Shilton was made an Inaugural Inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
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