In the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final between Fluminense and Chelsea, Fluminense goalkeeper Fábio, 44, had already won the 1997 U-17 World Cup when none of the players in Chelsea's current Club World Cup squad had been born.
Fábio claimed the U-17 World Cup title on September 21, 1997, as Brazil beat Ghana 2-1. The oldest player in Chelsea's Club World Cup squad is Tosin Adarabioyo, who was born on September 24, 1997.
That U-17 World Cup was held in Egypt, with other participants including Ronaldinho, Iker Casillas, Xavi, Gabriel Milito, Seydou Keita, Sebastian Kehl, Sebastian Deisler, and Roman Weidenfeller—Fábio was a contemporary of these players.
During the Club World Cup, Fábio surpassed Gianluigi Buffon with 508 career clean sheets, becoming the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in history. He has made 1,374 career appearances, closing in on the all-time record held by former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton (variously reported as 1,387 or 1,390 appearances).
