Most FIFA WC Appearances: Representing your country in the FIFA World Cup is a lifelong dream for any footballer as it empowers the athlete.
Even if it is a single cap for the nation, it is so sacred and personal that it can never be taken away from the individual.
Apart from this; it is the success of being at the beck and all for the country in crucial tournaments like UEFA, World Cup events.
To represent one’s nation in successive or multiple WC’s constitutes effort, longevity and sustenance.
Without further ado, we look at the top 5 players that have represented their national sides at multiple FIFA WC tournaments.
Antonio Carbajal
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The Mexican goalkeeper, fondly known as El Cinco Copas represented El Tri in 5 FIFA World Cup’s in his career spanning 16 years.
His first World Cup appearance was in 1950 following which he represented Mexico in the next 4 successive World Cups.
Carbajal played in 11 World Cup matches across the 16 years and held 48 caps for the nation.
Lothar Matthäus
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Germany’s Lothar Matthäus has also represented Die Mannschaft in 5 successive FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Matthäus was part of the 1982,1986,1990,1994 and 1998 World Cup’s.
Lothar captained his national side to the title in the 1990 edition in Italy after finishing runners-up in previous 2 campaigns.
In a career spanning 20 years for Germany, Matthäus played 150 times and scored 23 goals.
Rafael Marquez
He played his first one in 2002 before making the Mexico WC Squad in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
Marquez is considered one of the greatest defenders for the national side and has 147 caps to his name.
Gianluigi Buffon
Italy’s very own Gianluigi Buffon was part of the national squads for the WC on 5 occasions but played 4 World Cup tournaments.
He was part of the squad in the 1998 edition, but did not play a single match. But from 2002-2014, Buffon was the mainstay for Italy and played in the 3 WC’s.
Buffon was part of the Italian squad that lifted the 2006 World Cup in Germany and was awarded the Best Goalkeeper award as well.
With 176 caps, Buffon is the highest capped player for the national side in his career which stretched over 21 years (1997-2018).
Only four players participated in 5 World Cup 👏
Antonio Carbajal, Lothar Matthäus, Gianluigi Buffon and Rafael Marquez 🔥
They will be joined by Lionel Messi and Andrés Guardado in the 2022 World cup, and maybe by Cristiano Ronaldo if Portugal beat North Macedonia tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/p78UQGMBEt
— Skores (@skoresofficial) March 29, 2022
Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo
The rivalry of a life-time in the beautiful game sees Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo make this illustrious list.
The duo recently qualified for the 2022 World Cup which makes it 5 successive World Cup appearances for these two giants of the game.
Messi and Ronaldo played their maiden FIFA WC for Argentina and Portugal in 2006 and have since gone from strength to strength.
The deadly duo will be heading their teams to Qatar respectively as both eye their first FIFA World Cup honours.
While the former is the highest goal-scorer for Argentina, the latter is not only his Portugal’s but FIFA’s top international goal-scorer as well.
Hence, we are set to witness them in action in probably what could be the last time they play in a FIFA World Cup tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are heading to their fifth World Cup 🐐 pic.twitter.com/4biMTneri0
— GOAL (@goal) March 29, 2022
