Which players have made the most appearances at the World Cup?

DAZN News charts the players who have played the most games in the tournament's history. 

 

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20 Games 

Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Javier Mascherano (Argentina), Hugo Lloris (France), Grzegorz Lato (Poland), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Cafu (Brazil)

21 games 

Wladyslaw Zmuda (Poland), Uwe Seeler (Germany), Diego Maradona (Argentina) 

22 games 

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022

Ronaldo has made a career out of breaking records, so it's no surprise to see him on this list ahead of a sixth World Cup, where he has the opportunity to add to his tally and move up the rankings. 

The Portuguese has a strange relationship with the tournament, however. Not only has he failed to get his hands on the famous trophy, but he's never actually scored a goal in the knockout rounds of the competition. 

Still, he's had plenty of memorable moments on football's biggest stage, and he'll be hoping there are still a few more to come in 2026. 

23 games 

Paolo Maldini (Italy) 
1990, 1994, 1998, 2002

An Italian defender who is almost the benchmark for his position given his longevity at the highest level, which spread accross four tournaments. 

The Milan legend was part of the Italy back four when it was at its very best, even if he just missed out on winning the competition in 1994's penalty shootout defeat. 

Able to play at left-back or in the centre, Maldini made defending an artform and whatever he did, he made look easy. A class act from start to finish. 

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24 games

Miroslav Klose (Germany)
2002, 2006, 2010, 2014

Not content with scoring more goals than any other player in World Cup history, the German striker also appeared 24 times during four tournaments for the German national team.

His scoring run began in Japan in 2002 and by the time he'd finished his journey with his country, he'd netted 16 times on football's biggest stage, one ahead of Ronaldo. 

As a focal point in attack and a man who loved the big occasion, few have done it better on a World Cup platform than Klose. 

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25 games

Lothar Matthaus (Germany)
1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998

Known as 'The Tank', the legendary German midfielder steamrolled through five World Cup tournaments that spread over two decades and rarely had a below-par moment in a German shirt. 

Matthaus was full of power and drive that made him an all-action midfielder and fearsome figure in the middle of several successful national team sides. 

The pinnacle of his career was captaining Germany to World Cup glory in 1990, as they beat Argentina to lift the famous trophy. 

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26 games 

Lionel Messi (Argentina) 
2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022

Who else? The Argentinian has now become part of World Cup folklore, having made his debut in the competition in 2006 and is now set to play in his sixth finals.

Having already played the most games in the tournament's history, he also has the chance to break Miroslav Klose's all-time goalscoring feat in 2026, too.

A legacy that was completed in Qatar when Messi finally lifted the trophy, no player will define the World Cup more than Argentina's great-ever star. 

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