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Fluminense Keeper Breaks Shilton Appearance Record

Fluminense Keeper Breaks Shilton Appearance Record

Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel has broken the record held by former England international Peter Shilton for most competitive appearances in world football, says his club Fluminense.

The 44-year-old made his 1,391st appearance in the last 16 of the Copa Sudamericana – the South American equivalent of the Europa League – beating America de Cali 2-0 at the Maracana.

Fabio made his professional debut in 1997 and has spent his entire career in Brazil, representing Uniao Bandeirante, Atletico Paranaense, Vasco da Gama, Cruzeiro and Fluminense.

Most of his appearances came at Cruzeiro (976) between 2005 and 2022 while he made 150 for Vasco da Gama and 30 for Uniao Bandeirante.

His record-breaking outing on Tuesday was his 235th match for Fluminense.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Shilton held the record with 1,390 appearances but he claims he has played 1,387 (three fewer), external.

But Fabio, who has never played for his country despite winning the Under-19 World Cup in 1997, is only being recognised by his club as the outright record holder now that he has passed the 1,390 tally.

There were questions about the actual number Fabio was chasing.

Shilton, now 75, is recorded as having played 1,249 games in his club career and a record 125 England appearances, taking him to 1,374 appearances.

According to England Football Online, external, Shilton played 13 times for England Under-23s, which would take us to the 1,387 tally Shilton believes he has.

Whether the 13 should count as a senior appearance is up for debate but Fluminense have now claimed the record for their goalkeeper, external.

The club and fans paid tribute to Fabio before and after the match in Brazil while he wore a shirt with a special patch to celebrate the milestone.

“I have to thank everyone who is part of my life – my father, my mother, my sisters, my friends, my wife. I try to be a good human being,” he said.

“The important thing is to help my team-mates. I am grateful, but without God nothing would be possible.”

Fabio joined Fluminense in 2022 and won the Copa Libertadores the following year when they beat Boca Juniors in the final.

He also started all six games at the Club World Cup as Fluminense reached the semi-finals but lost to eventual winners Chelsea.

He made history at the tournament in the United States with a record-breaking 507th clean sheet – overtaking former Italy international Gianluigi Buffon.

In May, Fluminense handed Fabio a contract extension to keep him at the club until December 2026, by which time he will be 46.

Simone Inzaghi stood aghast while Kalidou Koulibaly’s celebrations died mid-roar.

On the floor, a 44-year-old man was defying the thump of a heavy landing to bounce back up.

He was Fabio, the lithe goalkeeper of Fluminense. He had just pulled off one of the saves of the Club World Cup – swiping Koulibaly’s powerful, angled header past the post with his left hand in Flu’s quarter-final win against Al-Hilal.

Fluminense are only Fabio’s fifth club in his 28-year career – 16 of his team-mates were born after his professional debut.

His only international experiences came last century, when he won the 1997 Under-17s World Cup, with Ronaldinho a team-mate, and reached the semi-finals of the under-20 version two years later.

His back-up then was Julio Cesar, who went on to win the Champions League with Inter Milan and whom Fabio could never dislodge from the national team.

But Julio Cesar, a year older than Fabio, retired in 2018.

Meanwhile Fabio, according to the CIES Football Observatory, played 5,850 minutes of football in 12 months from July 2024. That’s an average of 65 matches, more than any keeper has ever played in a calendar year.

But how fitting to have marked this ultimate record at the iconic Maracana Stadium.

BBC.com

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Arne Slot Confirms Mohamed Salah Is ‘Always In My Mind’ Amid Liverpool Absence

Mohamed Salah sitting on Liverpool bench during Premier League match

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has addressed the speculation surrounding Mohamed Salah, admitting that the Egypt forward is “always in my mind” despite being left out of the last two starting line-ups.

Salah, 33, has had a slow start to the Premier League season, scoring just four goals, and has played only 45 minutes across the last two games. The forward’s omission from the starting XI has sparked talk of a potential Saudi Pro League move, though Salah recently signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool in April.


Slot Explains Salah Situation

“I think for every player in my mind can start and Mo is an exceptional player for us,” Slot said. “He is always in my mind to either start or to come off the bench.”

Salah played a starring role last season, scoring 29 goals as Liverpool lifted the Premier League in Slot’s first campaign. However, he was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at West Ham and again came off the bench in the 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland.

Slot acknowledged the chatter around Salah’s absence, saying:

“The chatter, yes because he deserves that, he has been so influential for me and six or seven years. It’s completely normal people talk about it when he isn’t playing.”


Van Dijk Weighs In

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also commented, highlighting that no player at the club has “unlimited credit”:

“He is still a fantastic player and we still have to remember there is a reason why he has been so successful at the club and we have to respect that. I need him around as one of the leaders. He’s disappointed but that’s absolutely normal. It’s always been the case that no one is undroppable.”

This statement underscores the high standards at Liverpool, even for one of their most prolific stars.


Liverpool’s Current Form

The Reds are currently ninth in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, having won just two of their nine league games. Salah’s presence will be crucial as Liverpool look to regain momentum, with their next game set against Leeds United.

While fans debate Salah’s place in the squad, both Slot and Van Dijk emphasize that he remains central to Liverpool’s ambitions, both on the pitch and in the dressing room.


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Roy Keane Blasts ‘Frightened’ Manchester United After West Ham Draw

Roy Keane reacting angrily during a football analysis session

Manchester United thought they had the job wrapped up at Old Trafford… until they didn’t.

Diogo Dalot’s tidy finish just before the hour mark looked like the moment that would push the Red Devils to a much-needed victory. But in classic 2025 Manchester United fashion, control slipped, intensity dipped, and West Ham pounced.

And of course—when things go wrong—Roy Keane is never far from the verbal action.


“They Weren’t Nasty Enough!” – Keane Fires Shots

After the 1-1 draw, Keane wasted zero time calling out what he sees as the real issue at United: timidity.

According to him, United “took their foot off the gas” right after scoring. Against a team in the bottom three, he expected more authority, more aggression, and definitely more hunger.

Instead, what he saw was a team “almost frightened” of finishing the job.

He slammed the players for hiding when pressure kicked in, criticized their lack of killer instinct, and even called out the relaxed body language during substitutions.

In typical Keane fashion, the message was simple:
United should never be this soft.


Amorim Also Frustrated: “The Game Was Ours To Win”

Manager Ruben Amorim didn’t sugarcoat anything either.

While he didn’t go full-Keane, he admitted:

  • United lost control after scoring

  • They failed to win second balls

  • They should have killed the match earlier

  • The inconsistency is becoming a real problem

For a team chasing European places, three draws in five games simply isn’t good enough.


West Ham Deserved Their Point

To be fair, West Ham didn’t just sit back and wait. They fought, pressed, countered, and eventually got their reward when Soungoutou Magassa slotted home the 83rd-minute equaliser.

United had late chances, but the story of their season resurfaced again:
moments created, moments wasted.


Where Do United Go From Here?

Sitting eighth on the table, United’s inconsistency continues to be their biggest opponent. Keane believes the team lacks bite. Amorim believes the team lacks control.

Fans believe the team lacks… well, everything except drama.

What’s clear is this: until United find their identity and intensity, nights like this will keep happening.


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Beckham Joins Bellingham & Trent to Unveil Retro Gunmetal Adidas Predator Mania

David Beckham Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold posing with the gunmetal adidas Predator Mania boots

Beckham Links Up With The New Generation

Adidas just pulled off the ultimate fusion of eras — pairing Real Madrid legend David Beckham with modern-day stars Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold to unveil the new throwback Predator Mania Gunmetal.

The visual alone is powerful:
Beckham, the man who helped define the Predator legacy, standing alongside the players shaping a new generation at the Santiago Bernabéu.

It’s nostalgia meeting modern football culture in the cleanest way possible.


How Beckham & Zidane Made The Predator A Cultural Icon

In the 2000s, football boots had personalities — and none louder than the Predator.

Thanks to players like:

  • David Beckham

  • Zinedine Zidane

  • Steven Gerrard

…the Predator brand became more than footwear — it became a symbol of confidence, control, and creativity.

Beckham’s signature whip-your-free-kick technique and the unforgettable fold-over tongue made Predator Mania one of the most legendary boots ever created.

And now in 2025, it’s back — reborn with purpose.


A Historic Gunmetal Colourway Returns

The 2025 Predator Mania comes in a stunning Gunmetal grey, blending early-2000s nostalgia with fresh modern flair.

Adidas describes it as:

  • “Metallic, polished and aggressive”

  • Featuring crisp white Three Stripes

  • And the iconic red fold-over tongue — embroidered and unapologetically bold

Beckham famously wore this colourway during his early Real Madrid days.
It quickly became a cult favourite, often called “one of the most photogenic boots of its era.”

Now it’s back — and it looks better than ever.


Engineered For Today’s Game

While the look is faithful, adidas didn’t simply remake the past — they improved it.

The 2025 Predator Mania is crafted in the historic Scheinfeld factory in Germany, the birthplace of many legendary Predator lines.

Key enhancements include:

  • Upgraded comfort

  • Subtle structural refinement

  • Increased responsiveness

  • Modern fit for today’s style of play

In short:
Old-school swagger meets high-performance engineering.


Back On The Bernabéu Grass

The revival feels even more fitting because two current Real Madrid stars — Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold — will bring the Gunmetal Mania back to the Santiago Bernabéu pitch.

From Beckham’s free-kick artistry to Bellingham’s midfield dominance and Trent’s laser passing…
the Predator legacy remains in elite company.

Adidas couldn’t have scripted a better generational handover.


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