Legendary goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who is the first Uruguayan player to feature in five editions of the FIFA World Cup, now holds the record for the most appearances for the two-time champions in the tournament’s history. Uruguay’s Group H match against Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday (Monday IST) is Muslera’s 18th FIFA World Cup appearance.
He has now played one more World Cup match for Uruguay than former striker Edinson Cavani, who featured in the 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions of the tournament and made 17 appearances.
Most matches for Uruguay in FIFA World Cup
| RANK | PLAYER | MATCHES | EDITIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Fernando Muslera | 18* | 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| 2. | Edinson Cavani | 17 | 2010, 2014, 2018 |
| 3. | Diego Godín | 16 | 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
| Luis Suárez | 16 | 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 | |
| 5. | Ladislao Mazurkiewicz | 13 | 1966, 1970, 1974 |
| 6. | Martín Cáceres | 12 | 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
| 7. | Julio César Cortés | 11 | 1962, 1966, 1970 |
| Egidio Arévalo Ríos | 11 | 2010, 2014 | |
| 9. | José María Giménez | 10 | 2014, 2018, 2022 |
| Pedro Rocha | 10 | 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974 | |
| Luis Ubiña | 10 | 1966, 1970 | |
| Diego Forlán | 10 | 2002, 2010, 2014 | |
| Maxi Pereira | 10 | 2010, 2014 |
Muslera and Cavani are followed by Diego Godin and Luis Suarez on the list of Uruguay players with the most FIFA World Cup appearances. Both Godin and Suarez played
16 matches in the competition.
By making his 18th FIFA World Cup appearance, Muslera has also equalled Cláudio Taffarel’s record for the most World Cup matches played by a South American goalkeeper. Like Muslera, Taffarel made 18 appearances for Brazil across three editions of the tournament (1990, 1994 and 1998).
18 – El arquero de la selección uruguaya y @EdelpOficial, Fernando Muslera, igualará a Claudio Taffarel como el golero de una selección CONMEBOL con más partidos en la Copa Mundial de la FIFA. Histórico. pic.twitter.com/d1KKgJ8Kug
— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 21, 2026
The overall record for the most appearances by a goalkeeper in FIFA World Cup history belongs to Germany’s Manuel Neuer. The 40-year-old, who came out of retirement to play in this year’s World Cup, has made 21 appearances for the four-time champions so far.
Most FIFA World Cup matches by goalkeepers in FIFA World Cup
| PLAYER | COUNTRY | MATCHES | EDITIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manuel Neuer | Germany | 21 | 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| Hugo Lloris | France | 20 | 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
| Sepp Maier | West Germany | 18 | 1970, 1974, 1978 |
| Cláudio Taffarel | Brazil | 18 | 1990, 1994, 1998 |
| Fernando Muslera | Uruguay | 18* | 2010, 2014, 2018, 2026 |
| Fabien Barthez | France | 17 | 1998, 2002, 2006 |
| Iker Casillas | Spain | 17 | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
| Peter Shilton | England | 17 | 1982, 1986, 1990 |
| Dino Zoff | Italy | 17 | 1974, 1978, 1982 |
At 40 years and five days old, Muslera started Uruguay’s Group H match against Cape Verde alongside 40-year-and-18-day-old Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. The duo became the first pair of players aged over 40 to be named in the starting line-up for a FIFA World Cup match.
