Oldest Players in World Cup History

Only eight men aged 40 or older have played in World Cup matches since the tournament began nearly a century ago. This summer's event could see more veterans join their ranks.

Essam El Hadary, Egypt's goalkeeper, remains the oldest player to appear in a World Cup match. He was 45 years and 161 days old when he played in the 2018 group stage loss against Saudi Arabia. That record stands well above others by more than two years.

For the 2026 tournament, Craig Gordon of Scotland is currently the oldest squad member at 43. If he plays, it will mark Scotland's first World Cup appearance in 28 years and make him the second-oldest player in the competition's history.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's captain, might also add his name to this exclusive list by playing at 41 during what would be his sixth World Cup.

Veteran Players Likely to Appear in 2026

Aside from El Hadary, only a few players have featured beyond 40 at the World Cup. These include Colombia's former keeper Faryd Mondragon, Cameroon's legendary striker Roger Milla, and Northern Ireland's famed goalkeeper Pat Jennings.

At the 2026 World Cup, Germany’s Manuel Neuer started in their 7-1 win over Curacao, becoming the seventh oldest player ever to participate at 40 years and 79 days.

Other players over 40 expected to feature are Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko and Croatian midfielder Luke Modric. Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha will turn 40 just before their debut game against Spain on June 15.

Goalkeepers in their forties like Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa and Uruguay's Fernando Muslera have also secured spots in their national teams for the tournament across the US, Canada, and Mexico.