Gustavo Gómez to become Palmeiras’ 4th most capped this century

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Nosso Palestra

·31 January 2026

Gustavo Gómez to become Palmeiras’ 4th most capped this century

This Sunday’s match (1), against Botafogo-SP, for the sixth round of the Brazilian Championship, will mark a special moment in Gustavo Gómez's journey with Palmeiras. The team captain, the defender will reach 385 games wearing the green and white jersey and will secure the fourth position in the ranking of players with the most appearances for the club in the 21st Century.

Until now, he shares the spot with Raphael Veiga, both with 384 matches. Interestingly, Gómez's personal record occurs precisely in the first match without Veiga in the team. The midfielder is in negotiations to be loaned to América-MEX.

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Signed in 2018, the Paraguayan has established himself as one of the greatest technical and leadership references in the squad. A multi-champion, he is today one of the pillars of the club's most successful cycle in recent history.

In the overall ranking of the 21st Century, Gómez is now behind only Dudu, Weverton, and Marcos. (See the complete ranking below).

More minutes on the field

Starting another season with Palmeiras in 2026, captain Gustavo Gómez boasts the record of an outfield player with the most minutes on the field since 2020 in world football. With 319 games and 28,194 minutes played over the last six complete seasons (from 2020 to 2025), the Paraguayan is ahead of Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United-ENG, with 27,634 minutes in 327 games, Otamendi from Benfica-POR, with 26,791 in 304 games, and Harry Kane from Bayern Munich-GER, with 25,680 in 309. The survey was conducted by the research group “CIES Football Observatory,” specialized in statistical analysis in football.

“I saw this statistic and was pleased because we work hard. This is also thanks to the structure I have here at the training center, everything Palmeiras provides for each player, allowing us to focus solely on training and working. I think the care from the professionals who help each player always be on the field, including the medical department, is also important. I am happy about this and hope to continue this way, always helping Palmeiras and my Paraguayan national team as well. I aim to continue like this for a few more years,” said the number 15.

Gómez is one of the players with the most titles for Palmeiras, with 12, alongside Weverton, Marcos Rocha, Mayke, Dudu, Ademir da Guia, and Junqueira. Additionally, he is the club's top-scoring defender with 43 goals, followed by Luís Pereira with 36, and the foreign player with the most appearances – 379 games played since 2018, followed by compatriot Arce and Chilean Valdivia, both with 241.

See the top-10 of games for Palmeiras in the 21st Century:

1stDudu (Eduardo Pereira Rodrigues)462 games

2ndWeverton454 games

3rdMarcos392 games

4thGustavo GómezRaphael Veiga384 games

6thMarcos Rocha346 games

7thMayke319 games

8thZé Rafael311 games

9thRony284 games

10thFernando Prass274 games