2026 World Cup: who are the oldest players to have played in the World Cup?

Only seven players aged 40 and over have taken part in men's World Cup matches since the tournament's inception 96 years ago - and the list could grow even longer at the 2026 World Cup. According to the BBC's Ask Me Anything service, at least eight other players selected for the 2026 edition could join this very exclusive club.

The absolute record belongs to the Egyptian Essam El Hadary, who holds the greatest longevity on a world pitch: 45 years and 161 days when he played in the group stage match lost 2-1 against Saudi Arabia at the 2018 World Cup. This record exceeds the previous one by more than two years and seems difficult to beat.

Among the players already on the lists for 2026, the oldest is Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon (43 years old). If Gordon plays at the tournament - which marks Scotland's return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence - he would become the second-oldest player to play in the competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Portugal, can also join this exceptional group: if he participates in matches during his sixth World Cup, he will exceed the age of forty and join the players who have played over the age of 40.

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Historically, only a few players have crossed this threshold of longevity on the world stage. In addition to El Hadary, the BBC cites former Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón, Cameroon icon Roger Milla and Northern Ireland legend Pat Jennings as those who have made at least one World Cup appearance in their 40s.

Several other internationals named in the selections for 2026 have already passed the 40-year mark and are expected at the tournament: Bosnian striker Edin Džeko, German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will celebrate his 40th birthday just before his team's first match against Spain on June 15.

Finally, other experienced goalkeepers have also been selected for the competition: Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico) and Fernando Muslera (Uruguay) appear in the final lists and should bring their experience to their selections.

The 2026 World Cup could therefore further expand the short list of people aged forty and over who have played on a World Cup pitch, offering new chapters to the history of veterans of world football.