Only eight players aged 40 and over have ever featured in men’s World Cup games in the tournament’s 96-year history – and plenty more could be added at this summer’s tournament.
Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary holds the record for the oldest player to ever appear in a World Cup match, at the age of 45 years and 161 days.
El Hadary made one appearance at the 2018 World Cup during a 2-1 group stage defeat to Saudi Arabia to set the record by more than two years.
But El Hadary’s record looks safe for this year as Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 43, is so far the oldest player to be named in a full squad this year by some distance.
Should he feature this summer at what will be Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, the Hearts stopper would become the second-oldest player in World Cup history.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo could also join the exclusive club of players to have featured at 41 or above, should he play in what will be his record-breaking sixth World Cup.
Only El Hadary, former Colombia number one Faryd Mondragon, iconic Cameroon striker Roger Milla and Northern Ireland legend Pat Jennings have made at least one World Cup appearance beyond that age.
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is the first played aged 40 or over to feature at the 2026 World Cup. By starting in his side’s 7-1 win over Curacao, he became the seventh oldest player to ever feature in a World Cup.
Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko and Croatia midfielder Luke Modric have all passed the 40 mark and are likely to be involved in the tournament.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha turns 40 prior to his nation’s first-ever World Cup match against Spain on 15 June.
He will also be joined in the US, Canada and Mexico by fellow goalkeepers and fortysomethings Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico) and Fernando Muslera (Uruguay) who have also made the cut for their countries.