FIFA World Cup 2026 Set to Witness Record Number of Players Aged 40 and Above

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to make football history with a unique and unprecedented record, as eight players aged 40 or above are expected to feature in the tournament to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This figure surpasses the total number of 40-plus players who participated in all previous 22 FIFA World Cups combined, highlighting a remarkable shift in longevity at the highest level of football.

From 1930 to 2022, only seven players aged 40 or above featured in World Cup history, with goalkeepers traditionally making up the majority of older participants due to the nature of their role.

However, the expected presence of a record number of veteran stars at the 2026 edition reinforces the idea that age is increasingly becoming just a number in modern football.

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, aged 43, could emerge as the oldest player at the tournament. Reports suggest he may travel as a backup goalkeeper, but if he takes the field, he would become the second-oldest player ever to appear in World Cup history.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who will be 38 during the tournament, is also set to feature in his sixth World Cup, extending his legendary international career.

The oldest player in FIFA World Cup history remains Egypt’s Essam El Hadary, who represented his country at the 2018 tournament at the age of 45.

Football icon and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41, is expected to be the oldest outfield player at the World Cup. By appearing in his sixth tournament, Ronaldo is also set to achieve yet another global milestone.

Croatia’s midfield maestro Luka Modric, who will be 40, is expected to lead his country in what will be his fifth World Cup appearance, while Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko is also likely to be among the tournament’s veteran stars.

Other names on the list include Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose nation has qualified for the World Cup for the first time, as well as Germany’s veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the 2014 World Cup winner, who is set for another appearance on football’s biggest stage.

Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will celebrate his 40th birthday a day after his team’s opening group-stage match, while Mexico’s legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is also expected to play in his sixth World Cup at the age of 40.

Meanwhile, the record for the oldest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history still belongs to Cameroon legend Roger Milla, who famously scored at the 1994 World Cup at the age of 42 — a milestone that remains unmatched to this day.