You might have heard the term ‘cap in soccer’ and wondered why and when it’s used. After all, there are lots of terms relating to soccer that require an explanation!
Therefore, this article answers the question – what is a cap in soccer? – and breaks down everything you need to know about this term.
We also introduce you to the five most capped players of all time and highlight just how impressive their achievement is!
So, what is a cap in soccer?
A cap in soccer is awarded to a player when they represent their national team. Although the term is used to mean appearances, players also receive a literal cap, which serves as a memento of the occasion. We explore the issuance of caps in soccer below and introduce you to the most capped players of all time.
Why is it called a cap?
The reason why international appearances are referred to as caps is because of the practice of issuing actual caps to soccer players. The tradition started in the UK in 1886 when the founder of Corinthians proposed that all future England internationals be issued with a silk cap to commemorate the occasion.
Since then, the act of issuing caps for international appearances has become standard in most sports, including rugby and cricket. In many ways, the issuance of caps is an awesome tradition, as soccer players can cherish them for the rest of their careers.
So, since 1886, caps have been issued to soccer players for representing their national teams, and the practice has continued to the present day. But what do players do with all of their caps?
Do players get to keep their caps?
Yes, players get to keep the caps that they are awarded for representing their national teams. Most countries embroider the caps with the date and fixture, which allows a player to look back on their career in fondness and remember the exact game that they appeared in.
Players with dozens of caps may start to give them away as gifts or even provide them to charities for fundraising purposes. After all, if you have dozens of caps, they take up a lot of space at home and would only be gathering dust!
For instance, the first cap that Bobby Moore wore as England captain sold for £11,000 at an auction in 2019, highlighting just how sought after legendary soccer memorabilia is.
We know they get caps, but do soccer players also get paid for playing for their international teams? Find out by checking out our recent blog post on the topic.
Are caps in soccer only for international appearances?
Caps are only awarded to soccer players when they represent their international teams. This is because playing for your country is seen as the ultimate privilege and is something that very few professional soccers achieve in their careers.
Therefore, the presentation of a cap is something that should be cherished, as it marks an extremely special occasion that the player will look back on for the rest of their lives.
If caps were awarded to players for representing their clubs, it would get silly! Most players participate in between 30 and 50 games each season, so it would be unfeasible to award them caps for turning out for their teams.
Now that you know why caps are issued in soccer let’s take a look at the top ten most capped male players of all time. We’re sure you will have heard of a number of these legendary players!
Who are the most capped players of all time? (Top Five!)
Bader Al-Mutawa – Kuwait – 192 caps
The most capped soccer player of all time is Bader Al-Mutawa. As a striker, he has scored 56 goals for his national team after making his debut in the 2003 Arabian Cup in a match against Yemen. Al-Mutawa is still playing, so he may well break the 200 cap mark before he’s finished!
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal – 186 caps
CR7 needs very little introduction. Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, Ronaldo continues racking up the awards and given that he still has several seasons left in the tank, he will almost certainly hang up his boots with more than his current 186 appearances for Portugal.
Ahmed Hassan – Egypt – 184 caps
While many current soccer fans regard Mo Salah as one of the finest players on the planet, he’s not regarded as his country’s all-time best player. That honour goes to Ahmed Hassan, who represented the Pharoes 184 times between 1995 and 2012. A talented attacking midfielder, Hassan created more than he scored and goes down as one of the finest North African players in history.
Sergio Ramos – Spain – 180 caps
Legendary Spanish defender Sergio Ramos has won it all. He formed a formidable partnership at the heart of Spain’s defence with Gerard Pique and also has a decorated career at club level. Seeing out his career at PSG, he will forever be regarded as one of the finest central defenders to ever play the game.
Ahmed Mubarak Al-Mahaijri – Oman – 180 caps
Level with Sergio Ramos, Al Mahaijri of Oman might not be as well known as the Spaniard, but his international career has been extremely impressive. An all-action defensive midfielder, Al-Mahaijri has represented Oman for nearly two decades, and he is yet to call time on his international career. Like some of the others on this list, there could be more caps to come!
Recap: Caps in soccer explained
The tradition of awarding soccer players caps started in 1886 in England and is still going strong. As it is seen as a privilege to play for one’s national team, caps are a nice way to mark the occasion for professional players.
At the end of their careers, soccer players can look back on the number of caps that they have accumulated and be extremely proud of their achievements.