The oldest player in World Cup history is Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who was 45 years and 161 days old when he played against Saudi Arabia at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Nobody has come close to that record since, not even at the 2026 World Cup, which had more over-40 players in its squads than any tournament before it.
This guide lists the 10 oldest players to appear at a men’s World Cup, the oldest goalscorers (including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in 2026), the oldest players named for the 2026 tournament and the youngest records for comparison.
Quick answer: who is the oldest World Cup player?
| Record | Player | Age | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oldest player ever | Essam El-Hadary (Egypt) | 45 years, 161 days | Saudi Arabia vs Egypt, 2018 |
| Oldest outfield player | Roger Milla (Cameroon) | 42 years, 39 days | Russia vs Cameroon, 1994 |
| Oldest goalscorer | Roger Milla (Cameroon) | 42 years, 39 days | Russia vs Cameroon, 1994 |
| Second-oldest goalscorer | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | 41 years, 147 days | Portugal vs Croatia, Round of 32, 2026 |
Essam El-Hadary: the oldest player in World Cup history
El-Hadary was Egypt’s long-serving goalkeeper and had waited his whole career for a World Cup. Egypt had not qualified since 1990, so when they reached Russia 2018 he was already 45. He was on the bench for the first two group games, then started the final group match against Saudi Arabia in Volgograd on 25 June 2018.
He even saved a penalty in that game, although Egypt lost 2-1. With that appearance he broke the record set four years earlier by Colombia’s Faryd Mondragón, and he still holds it today.
His record shows a clear pattern you will see throughout this list: goalkeepers dominate. Seven of the 10 oldest World Cup players are keepers, because the position relies more on positioning, reading the game and experience than on running power.
Top 10 oldest players to appear at a World Cup
Ages are at the date of each player’s oldest World Cup appearance. The table covers men’s World Cups up to and including 2018–2022; see the 2026 section below for the latest tournament.
| # | Player | Team | Position | Opponent | Year | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essam El-Hadary | Egypt | Goalkeeper | Saudi Arabia | 2018 | 45 years, 161 days |
| 2 | Faryd Mondragón | Colombia | Goalkeeper | Japan | 2014 | 43 years, 3 days |
| 3 | Roger Milla | Cameroon | Forward | Russia | 1994 | 42 years, 39 days |
| 4 | Pat Jennings | Northern Ireland | Goalkeeper | Brazil | 1986 | 41 years, 0 days |
| 5 | Peter Shilton | England | Goalkeeper | Italy | 1990 | 40 years, 292 days |
| 6 | Dino Zoff | Italy | Goalkeeper | West Germany | 1982 | 40 years, 133 days |
| 7 | Ali Boumnijel | Tunisia | Goalkeeper | Ukraine | 2006 | 40 years, 71 days |
| 8 | Jim Leighton | Scotland | Goalkeeper | Morocco | 1998 | 39 years, 334 days |
| 9 | David James | England | Goalkeeper | Germany | 2010 | 39 years, 330 days |
| 10 | Atiba Hutchinson | Canada | Midfielder | Morocco | 2022 | 39 years, 296 days |
Faryd Mondragón (Colombia, 2014)
Mondragón came on as a late substitute against Japan in Cuiabá in 2014, three days after his 43rd birthday. It was a planned send-off from coach José Pékerman, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. He held the record until El-Hadary broke it four years later.
Roger Milla (Cameroon, 1994)
Milla is the only outfield player in the top five. He had already become a global star at Italia 90, when he scored four goals and danced at the corner flag at the age of 38. Four years later, at USA 94, he scored against Russia at 42, a goalscoring record that still stands.
Dino Zoff (Italy, 1982)
Zoff is the oldest player to win the World Cup. He captained Italy to the 1982 title and lifted the trophy at 40 years and 133 days after the final against West Germany in Madrid. Read more about every champion in our FIFA World Cup winners list.
Oldest goalscorers in World Cup history
Scoring at a World Cup in your late 30s is rare; doing it after 40 has only happened twice. The 2026 tournament changed this list more than any other, with four new names.
| # | Player | Team | Tournament | Stage | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roger Milla | Cameroon | 1994 | Group stage vs Russia | 42 years, 39 days |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 2026 | Round of 32 vs Croatia | 41 years, 147 days |
| 3 | Pepe | Portugal | 2022 | Round of 16 vs Switzerland | 39 years, 283 days |
| 4 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 2026 | Knockout stage | 39 years, 13 days |
| 5 | Gunnar Gren | Sweden | 1958 | Semi-final | 37 years, 236 days |
| 6 | Cuauhtémoc Blanco | Mexico | 2010 | Group stage | 37 years, 151 days |
| 7 | Ivan Perišić | Croatia | 2026 | Round of 32 | 37 years, 150 days |
| 8 | Felipe Baloy | Panama | 2018 | Group stage | 37 years, 120 days |
| 9 | Marko Arnautović | Austria | 2026 | Group stage | 37 years, 69 days |
| 10 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 2010 | Group stage | 36 years, 29 days |
Source for ages: beIN Sports.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2026 goals
Ronaldo’s goal against Croatia in the Round of 32 made him only the second player after Milla to score at a World Cup after turning 40. It was also his first ever World Cup knockout-stage goal, at his sixth tournament. You can see every goal he has scored at the finals in our Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup goals guide.
Messi and Pepe
Pepe’s header against Switzerland in Qatar 2022 made him the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match at the time, and Ronaldo has now passed him. Messi, who turned 39 during the 2026 tournament, added more goals to his record tally; the race between the two is covered in our World Cup all-time top scorers list.
Oldest players at the 2026 World Cup
The 48-team 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico was the oldest in history by squad selection. Before 2026, only seven players aged 40 or over had ever appeared at a World Cup, and no single tournament had featured more than one. Going into 2026, at least six players aged 40 or older were named in final squads, according to CBS Sports.
| Player | Team | Date of birth | Age at the start of the tournament |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Gordon | Scotland | 31 Dec 1982 | 43 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 5 Feb 1985 | 41 |
| Guillermo Ochoa | Mexico | 13 Jul 1985 | 40 |
| Luka Modrić | Croatia | 9 Sep 1985 | 40 |
| Edin Džeko | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 17 Mar 1986 | 40 |
| Manuel Neuer | Germany | 27 Mar 1986 | 40 |
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was the oldest player named in any 2026 squad, at 43. Even with an appearance he could not have caught El-Hadary, so the all-time record of 45 years and 161 days survived the tournament.
Ronaldo, Messi and Ochoa were all named for a record sixth World Cup. For the full story of the tournament, see our 2026 World Cup winner recap.
Why are the oldest World Cup players mostly goalkeepers?
- Less running: a goalkeeper covers a fraction of the distance of an outfield player, so age affects performance less.
- Experience matters more: positioning, organising a defence and reading crosses improve with years of games.
- Fewer places to compete for: a team only needs one keeper, so a trusted veteran can hold the shirt for a long time.
- Squad roles: older keepers are often picked as experienced backups, which keeps them in squads into their 40s.
The best goalkeepers at each tournament are listed in our World Cup Golden Glove winners guide.
Youngest World Cup records for comparison
| Record | Player | Age | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngest player | Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland) | 17 years, 41 days | 1982 |
| Youngest goalscorer | Pelé (Brazil) | 17 years, 239 days | 1958 |
Interestingly, Northern Ireland hold both ends of the age story: Whiteside is the youngest World Cup player and Pat Jennings is the fourth-oldest. The best young players of every tournament are listed in our World Cup Best Young Player Award winners article.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the oldest player to play in a World Cup?
Essam El-Hadary of Egypt. He was 45 years and 161 days old when he played against Saudi Arabia on 25 June 2018.
Who is the oldest player to score in a World Cup?
Roger Milla of Cameroon, who scored against Russia in 1994 aged 42 years and 39 days. Cristiano Ronaldo is second after scoring against Croatia in 2026 at 41 years and 147 days.
Who was the oldest player at the 2026 World Cup?
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was the oldest player named in a 2026 squad, at 43. Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, was the oldest outfield player in the tournament.
Who is the oldest player to win the World Cup?
Dino Zoff, Italy’s captain and goalkeeper, who won the 1982 World Cup at 40 years and 133 days.
Has anyone over 40 scored at a World Cup?
Yes, only two players: Roger Milla (42, in 1994) and Cristiano Ronaldo (41, in 2026).
For official tournament records, see FIFA.com and Guinness World Records.
