Throughout the World Cup’s 96-year history, many of the game’s finest players have graced its grandest stage.
But which stars have played the most World Cup matches? And who has featured at the most World Cups?
Ahead of the World Cup 2026 beginning in June, we take a look at those who have seen more World Cup action than most.
Which Player Has Made the Most World Cup Appearances?
In captaining Argentina to victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final, Lionel Messi broke the record for the most World Cup games played with 26 – overtaking German legend Lothar Matthaus.
Messi is one of 14 players from six countries to play 20 or more World Cup matches – and the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will be hoping to add at least another three this summer.
Unsurprisingly, the list of players with 20+ World Cup appearances includes some of the game’s all-time greats. Here it is in full:
Player | Country | World Cup Games Played |
Lionel Messi | Argentina | 26 |
Lothar Matthaus | Germany | 25 |
Miroslav Klose | Germany | 24 |
Paolo Maldini | Italy | 23* |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 22 |
Uwe Seeler | Germany | 21 |
Wladyslaw Zmuda | Poland | 21 |
Diego Maradona | Argentina | 21 |
Grzegorz Lato | Poland | 20 |
Cafu | Brazil | 20 |
Philipp Lahm | Germany | 20 |
Bastian Schweinsteiger | Germany | 20 |
Javier Mascherano | Argentina | 20 |
Hugo Lloris | France | 20 |
*Most games played without ever winning the World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo will also be eyeing up top spot on the list, having turned 41 in February.
Hugo Lloris is the only goalkeeper to have play 20 World Cup games; however, if Belgium make it to the last 16 and Thibaut Courtois plays in all their matches, he will draw level with Lloris.
Four other players with 15+ World Cup matches under their belts could add to their tallies at this year’s tournament: Croatia trio Luka Modric (19), Ivan Perisic (17) and Mateo Kovacic (15), and Japan’s Yuto Nagatomo (15).
Which Players Have Played at the Most World Cups?
Three of the players on the list of most World Cup match appearances have also played at a joint-record five separate editions: Messi, Matthaus and Ronaldo.
Six players have achieved that feat in all, with the full list as follows:
Player | Country | World Cups Played At |
Antonio Carbajal | Mexico | 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966 |
Lothar Matthaus | Germany | 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 |
Rafael Marquez | Mexico | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 |
Andres Guardado | Mexico | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
Lionel Messi | Argentina | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
Two other players have been named in the squad for five World Cups though not played at all of them: goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon of Italy (unused in 1998; played in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014) and Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico (unused in 2006 and 2010; played in 2014, 2018 and 2022).
