- Cahill leads the way with nine World Cup appearances while contracted to Everton
- Everton players have represented nations across four continents at the World Cup
- Joseph Yobo and a trio of six-cap stars complete the top positions
Everton have a proud history of supplying players to England at the World Cup, but the club’s international footprint stretches far beyond the Three Lions.
Over the years, Blues players have represented countries from across Europe, Africa, North America and Oceania on football’s biggest stage, with some enjoying lengthy and memorable World Cup careers while under contract at Goodison Park.
Using FIFA World Cup finals appearances made while contracted to Everton, here are the non-English players with the most World Cup appearances in the club’s history.
1. Tim Cahill (Australia) – 9 appearances
No non-English Everton player has featured at more World Cups while representing the club than Tim Cahill.
The Australian midfielder appeared four times at Germany 2006, three times at South Africa 2010 and twice at Brazil 2014 before Australia’s group-stage exit.
Cahill scored in all three tournaments, becoming one of the World Cup’s most recognisable figures and cementing his place among Everton’s greatest modern players.
2. Joseph Yobo (Nigeria) – 7 appearances
Yobo was a regular for Nigeria across two World Cups during his Everton career.
The defender played all three of Nigeria’s matches at the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan before adding four more appearances in South Africa eight years later.
A long-serving Everton captain and one of Africa’s most respected defenders, Yobo remains the highest-ranked Nigerian on this list.
3. Thomas Gravesen (Denmark) – 6 appearances
Gravesen featured prominently for Denmark at the 2002 World Cup while an Everton player.
The combative midfielder appeared in all four of Denmark’s matches as they reached the last 16 before being eliminated by England.
His energetic displays mirrored the style that later made him a favourite at Goodison Park.
4. Johnny Heitinga (Netherlands) – 6 appearances
Heitinga played six times as the Netherlands reached the 2010 World Cup final.
The defender started throughout the knockout stages and was part of the Dutch side that narrowly lost to Spain after extra time in Johannesburg.
His performances in South Africa came during one of the strongest periods of his international career.
5. Tim Howard (United States) – 6 appearances
Howard represented the United States at both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups while contracted to Everton.
After making two appearances in South Africa, he played all four of America’s matches in Brazil, producing one of the tournament’s most memorable individual performances against Belgium in the round of 16.
The goalkeeper’s displays further enhanced his reputation as one of Everton’s finest Premier League-era signings.
6. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) – 5 appearances
Lukaku arrived at the 2014 World Cup as one of Europe’s most promising young forwards.
The Everton striker featured five times as Belgium reached the quarter-finals in Brazil, scoring against the United States in the last 16.
It was the first major tournament of what would become a record-breaking international career.
7. Marouane Fellaini (Belgium) – 5 appearances
Like Lukaku, Fellaini was part of Belgium’s squad at the 2014 World Cup while still under Everton contract.
The midfielder appeared in all five of Belgium’s matches and scored the winning goal against Algeria during the group stage.
His physical presence made him a key figure for Marc Wilmots’ side.
8. Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal) – 5 appearances
Gueye played three times for Senegal at the 2018 World Cup before adding two more appearances at Qatar 2022 while in his second spell with Everton.
One of the most consistent midfielders of his generation, Gueye helped Senegal establish themselves as a regular presence on the world stage.
Everton’s global reach on football’s biggest stage
Cahill’s tally of nine appearances remains the benchmark for Everton players representing nations other than England.
From Australia’s greatest goalscorer to Nigerian captains, Dutch World Cup finalists and American record-breakers, Everton’s contribution to the tournament has come from every corner of the globe.
While future tournaments may see current players climb the rankings, Cahill’s place at the top has stood unchallenged for more than a decade.
