By Jai Rai
Dubai: This Club World Cup is getting genuinely exciting with Al Hilal and Brazilian clubs demonstrating to the world that there is quality football outside Europe as well. Additionally, there are some fascinating stories to be told.The story of Brazilian goalkeeper Fabio Deivson Lopes Maciel is absolutely mind-blowing. The phrase “age is just a number” is becoming more relevant these days.At 44 years old, this man is proving to be a saviour. Monday’s performance against Inter Milan was brilliant. His saves were pivotal in maintaining a clean sheet, thus helping Fluminense secure a 2-0 victory and book their spot in the Club World Cup quarter-finals against Al-Hilal.He accomplished this in the intense heat, making even his 40-year-old teammate Thiago Silva appear young. Both veterans absolutely utilised all their experience, proving once again how crucial it is in the beautiful game.The goalkeeper is already a history maker. Just four days before that Inter Milan masterclass, Fabio made history in the most understated way possible. His 507th clean sheet – a new world record, surpassing none other than Gianluigi Buffon. The tally now stands at 508, and honestly, who knows where it will end? Fabio, who currently plays for Fluminense, spent much of his club career at Brazilian powerhouse Cruzeiro. Here’s something that might surprise you – despite his incredible longevity, he has never earned a senior cap for Brazil. That’s correct, never represented the Seleção at the highest level, though he did feature for the national team at junior levels. He made his senior club career debut in 1997.The veteran has his sights set on the ultimate validation – the most appearances in world football history. Currently, that record belongs to former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton with 1,390 appearances, according to the Guinness World Records. Remember, he has a contract until the end of 2026 at his current club. There is plenty of time for him to surpass Shilton’s tally.The beautiful thing about Fabio’s journey is that he is not merely chasing numbers. It’s about passion for the game that has brought him this far. The professionalism he displays is of a different class entirely. He reminds us that sometimes, the best stories are written by those who simply refuse to stop writing them..Guardiola hails new signings as Man City survive ‘tough conditions’.We’re not friends, we don’t socialise: Lionel Messi on Cristiano Ronaldo .Football: Who will win the Ballon d’Or? Dembele, Yamal or Salah?.Record-breaking Japan footballer Kazuyoshi Miura still going strong at 58