List of the Oldest Players at the World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is the ultimate stage in world football, and for some players, that moment comes at a remarkably advanced age. Here’s a list of the oldest players ever to appear at the FIFA World Cup, highlighting the longevity, experience, and enduring class of those who competed on the global stage well into the later years of their careers. See the oldest players to score a goal and also the Youngest Players.
old World Cup players are mostly goal keepers
Top-10 List of the Oldest Players (2026 Update)
The oldest player at the 2026 World Cup was 43 year old Scottish goalkeeper Graig Gordan. He was in the Scotland squad but did not play any games. The oldest player to have game time in 2026 was Cristiano Ronaldo. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was 40 years and 12 days when he made his debut World Cup match.
| # | Age | Player | Country | World Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 yrs 161 d | Essam El Hadary | Egypt | 2018 |
| 2 | 43 yrs 3 d | Faryd Mondragón | Colombia | 2014 |
| 3 | 42 yrs 39 d | Roger Milla | Cameroon | 1994 |
| 4 | 41 yrs 126 d | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 2026 |
| 5 | 41 yrs 0 d | Pat Jennings | Northern Ireland | 1986 |
| 6 | 40 yrs 292 d | Peter Shilton | England | 1990 |
| 7 | 40 yrs 275 d | Luka Modrić | Croatia | 2026 |
| 8 | 40 yrs 86 d | Edin Džeko | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2026 |
| 9 | 40 yrs 76 d | Manuel Neuer | Germany | 2026 |
| 10 | 40 yrs 41 d | Dino Zoff | Italy | 1982 |
Notes:
- Many the players on this list are goal keepers, except the 3rd (Roger Milla) and 4th (Ronaldo).
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Where to next? ...
- Youngest Players — List of the youngest to ever play at the World Cup.
- List of the Oldest Players to Score at the World Cup
- FIFA World Cup Golden Glove Winners (The Best Goalkeeper)
- Players with the Most Appearances at the World Cup
- FIFA World Cup Players Lists