FIFA Reveals List of Players with Most World Cup Appearances

FIFA on Monday released a list showing footballers by the number of FIFA World Cup tournaments they have played in. The list features players who have participated in four, five, and six tournaments.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi now hold the record for the most World Cup appearances. Both players have taken part in six tournaments, including the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Following them are seven players who have played in five World Cups. A total of 60 players have participated in four editions.

FIFA published the list on August 17, 2026. It ranks players based on their World Cup appearances. Ronaldo and Messi lead the pack with six appearances each.

The list, titled "Men playing in the most World Cups," highlights players with the most World Cup editions in their careers.

Here is the full list:

1st) Cristiano Ronaldo, 6 World Cups
1st) Lionel Messi, 6 World Cups
3rd) Antonio Carbajal, 5 World Cups
3rd) Andres Guardado, 5 World Cups
3rd) Rafael Marquez, 5 World Cups
3rd) Lothar Matthaus, 5 World Cups
3rd) Luka Modric, 5 World Cups
3rd) Yuto Nagatomo, 5 World Cups
3rd) Manuel Neuer, 5 World Cups
10th) Sami Al-Jaber, 4 World Cups
10th) DaMarcus Beasley, 4 World Cups
10th) Valon Behrami, 4 World Cups
10th) Giuseppe Bergomi, 4 World Cups
10th) Gianluigi Buffon, 4 World Cups
10th) Sergio Busquets, 4 World Cups
10th) Martin Caceres, 4 World Cups
10th) Cafu, 4 World Cups
10th) Tim Cahill, 4 World Cups
10th) Denis Caniza, 4 World Cups
10th) Fabio Cannavaro, 4 World Cups
10th) Iker Casillas, 4 World Cups
10th) Edinson Cavani, 4 World Cups
10th) Thibaut Courtois, 4 World Cups
10th) Kevin De Bruyne, 4 World Cups
10th) Angel Di Maria, 4 World Cups
10th) Samuel Eto’o, 4 World Cups
10th) Djalma Santos, 4 World Cups
10th) Diego Godin, 4 World Cups
10th) Ehsan Hajisafi, 4 World Cups
10th) Jordan Henderson, 4 World Cups
10th) Thierry Henry, 4 World Cups
10th) Hong Myungbo, 4 World Cups
10th) Andres Iniesta, 4 World Cups
10th) Alireza Jahanbakhsh, 4 World Cups
10th) Raul Jimenez, 4 World Cups
10th) Miroslav Klose, 4 World Cups
10th) Mateo Kovacic, 4 World Cups
10th) Mathew Leckie, 4 World Cups
10th) Hugo Lloris, 4 World Cups
10th) Romelu Lukaku, 4 World Cups
10th) Paolo Maldini, 4 World Cups
10th) Diego Maradona, 4 World Cups
10th) Javier Mascherano, 4 World Cups
10th) Hector Moreno, 4 World Cups
10th) Thomas Muller, 4 World Cups
10th) Fernando Muslera, 4 World Cups
10th) Neymar, 4 World Cups
10th) Nicolas Otamendi, 4 World Cups
10th) Pele, 4 World Cups
10th) Pepe, 4 World Cups
10th) Ivan Perisic, 4 World Cups
10th) Sergio Ramos, 4 World Cups
10th) Gianni Rivera, 4 World Cups
10th) Pedro Rocha, 4 World Cups
10th) Ricardo Rodriguez, 4 World Cups
10th) Mathew Ryan, 4 World Cups
10th) Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, 4 World Cups
10th) Enzo Scifo, 4 World Cups
10th) Uwe Seeler, 4 World Cups
10th) Xherdan Shaqiri, 4 World Cups
10th) Rigobert Song, 4 World Cups
10th) Son Heungmin, 4 World Cups
10th) Luis Suarez, 4 World Cups
10th) Franky Van der Elst, 4 World Cups
10th) Axel Witsel, 4 World Cups
10th) Xavi, 4 World Cups
10th) Granit Xhaka, 4 World Cups
10th) Wladyslaw Zmuda, 4 World Cups
10th) Andoni Zubizarreta, 4 World Cups