Mario Zagallo and Julio Olarticoechea are the players with the most World Cup appearances without ever tasting defeat: 12. Zagallo played in all of Brazil’s games across Sweden 1958 and Chile 1962, helping them register 10 victories and two draws. The Alagoas native nevertheless required a stroke of fortune at both tournaments. Pepe, the Seleção’s first choice on the left wing, was deemed unfit to start their openers and Zagallo seized his shot in style. ‘The Little Ant’ impressed with his work-rate and two goals, including one in the final against Sweden in Solna.
Olarticoechea, a non-playing member of Argentina’s Spain 1982 squad, appeared in all seven of their matches at Mexico 1986 and five at Italy 1990, winning eight and drawing four. The man from Saladillo was left out of their two defeats at the latter: to Cameroon in the tournament’s opening game and West Germany in the decider.
Sources: FIFA Official
