FIFA World Cup Player Appearances

Playing in the FIFA World Cup is an honor to any professional soccer players that are selected to represent their country. Some of the most gifted players have even managed to play in multiple FIFA World Cups for their national teams. Here is a list of the soccer players that have played in the most FIFA World Cups:

Who has played in the most FIFA World Cups?

• Antonio Carbajal (México) - 5 Cups (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966)
• Lothar Matthäus (Germany) - 5 Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998)
• Andrés Guardado (México) - 5 Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Rafael Márquez (Mexico) - 5 Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 5 Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 5 Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) - 4 Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
• Andoni Zubizarreta (Spain) - 4 Cups (1986, 1990, 1994, 1998)
• Andrés Iniesta (Spain) - 4 Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
• Cafu (Brazil) - 4 Cups (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006)
• DaMarcus Beasley (United States) - 4 Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
• Denis Caniza (Paraguay) - 4 Cups (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010)
• Diego Maradona (Argentina) - 4 Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994)
• Ángel Di María (Argentina) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Djalma Santos (Brazil) - 4 Cups (1954, 1958, 1962, 1966)
• Enzo Scifo (Belgium) - 4 Cups (1986, 1990, 1994, 1998)
• Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) - 4 Cups (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010)
• Franky Van Der Elst (Belgium) - 4 Cups (1986, 1990, 1994, 1998)
• Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) - 4 Cups ((1998), 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
• Gianni Rivera (Italy) - 4 Cups (1962, 1966, 1970, 1974)
• Sergio Busquets (Spain) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Giuseppe Bergomi (Italy) - 4 Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1998)
• Hong Myung-bo (South Korea) - 4 Cups (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
• Iker Casillas (Spain) - 4 Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
• Javier Mascherano (Argentina) - 4 Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
• Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (Germany) - 4 Cups (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
• Thomas Müller (Germany) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Manuel Neuer (Germany) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Hugo Lloris (France) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Miroslav Klose (Germany) - 4 Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
• Paolo Maldini (Italy) - 4 Cups (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
• Luka Modrić (Croatia) - 4 Cups (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Pedro Rocha (Uruguay) - 4 Cups (1962, 1966, 1970, 1974)
• Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Diego Godín (Uruguay) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Luis Suárez (Uruguay) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Pelé (Brazil) - 4 Cups (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
• Rigobert Song (Cameroon) - 4 Cups (1994, 1998, 2002, 2010)
• Sami Al-Jaber (Saudi Arabia) - 4 Cups (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006)
• Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) - 4 Cups (1998, 2002, 2010, 2014)
• Sergio Ramos (Spain) - 4 Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
• Thierry Henry (France) - 4 Cups (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010)
• Tim Cahill (Australia) - 4 Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
• Uwe Seeler (Germany) - 4 Cups (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
• Valon Behrami (Switzerland) - 4 Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
• Władysław Żmuda (Poland) - 4 Cups (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986)
• Xavi (Spain) - 4 Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
• Martín Cáceres (Uruguay) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Hong Myung-bo (South Korea) - 4 Cups (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
• Yuto Nagatomo (Japan) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
• Pepe (Portugal) - 4 Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)

Seven players have managed to play in five different FIFA World Cups in history. The first player to do so was Antonio Carbajal, a legendary goalkeeper for Mexico. Antonio Carbajal played in the 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, and 1966 World Cups, making him the first player in history to have played in five different World Cups. Across his five World Cup campaigns, Antonio Carbajal made 11 World Cup match appearances. During this time, Mexico did not make it past the group stages in any of Carbajal’s World Cups.

The second player that has played in five different FIFA World Cups was Lothar Matthäus. Lothar Matthäus was a midfielder that played for the German National Team throughout the 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998 FIFA World Cups. A gifted attacker, Lothar Matthäus played in Germany’s winning squad when they won the 1990 World Cup. During his career, Lothar Matthäus made 150 total appearances for the German National Team.

The third player to have made five FIFA World Cup appearances was Rafael Márquez. Márquez played as a defender for the Mexican National Team. Rafael Márquez has played in the 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 World Cups.

The fourth player with five appearances is Andrés Guardado. He has been playing midfielder for Mexico since 2005 and is the player with the most caps in team history. Guardado has played for the Mexican National Team in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups.

Tied with Guardado for the fourth player to make five FIFA World Cup appearances is Lionel Messi. Messi plays as a forward for the Argentinian National Team. Lionel Messi has played in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups. He even led his team to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Tied with Guardado and Messi for the fourth player to make five FIFA World Cup appearances is Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo plays as a forward for the Portugal National Team. Cristiano Ronaldo has played in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups.

Tied in second place, 45 players have represented their countries in four different FIFA World Cups as of 2022.

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