Chasing El-Hadary: The 7 Legendary Footballers defying age at the 2026 World Cup

23.06.26 FT World Cup

Portugal

5

:

Uzbekistan

0

Seven legendary footballers over forty are shattering longevity records across North America this June during a historic World Cup 2026.

Ronaldo and the outfield icons

The current tournament is rapidly earning a unique reputation among fans as the ultimate proving ground for football's golden generation. Rather than stepping aside for youth, a handful of iconic stars are proving that elite conditioning can completely outrun the biological clock.

According to the global football database Transfermarkt, Portugal's legendary 5 time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is the most high profile member of this exclusive over 40 club arriving at the tournament at 41 year and four month old.

He is joined in the outfield history books by midfield maestro Luka Modrić who continues to pull the strings for Croatia at 40 year and 9 month and Bosnian target man Edin Džeko leading his line at 40 year and 3 month.

The ageless guardians of the net

While outfield players face intense physical demands, goalkeepers make up the backbone of this tournament's veteran presence.

• Craig Gordon (Scotland): The veteran shot-stopper officially stands as the absolute oldest player in the tournament at 43 years and five months.
  
• Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico): A man who transforms into a brick wall every four years, Ochoa enters his home tournament at 40 years and 11 months.
  
• Manuel Neuer (Germany): The pioneering sweeper-keeper anchors the German defense at 40 years and two months.
  
• Vozinha (Cape Verde): Rounding out the seven is Cape Verde's reliable number one, Josimar Dias who blew out his 40th birthday candles just 21 day before the group stage kicked off.

Chasing El-Hadary’s immortal record

While seeing seven distinct quadragenarians in a single World Cup is a massive statistical anomaly, the ultimate peak of footballing longevity still belongs to the African continent.

During the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary set a record that may never be broken when he took the pitch against Saudi Arabia at 45 year and 161 day old.

To cement his legendary status, the veteran keeper even saved a crucial first-half penalty during the match.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

Related teams and leagues

Portugal

Uzbekistan

Scotland

Mexico

Germany

World Cup

Show more