The oldest player in World Cup history is Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who played at 45 years and 161 days in 2018.
Meanwhile, the oldest goalscorer is Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who scored at 42 years and 39 days in 1994. At the 2026 World Cup, Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is the tournament’s oldest player at 43.
Oldest players in World Cup history
Essam El-Hadary sits at the top of the all-time list, and his record is still the one every veteran World Cup player is chasing. The Egyptian goalkeeper appeared against Saudi Arabia at the 2018 finals, which gave the tournament its oldest player ever.
- Essam El-Hadary - 45 years, 161 days
- Faryd Mondragon - 43 years, 3 days
- Roger Milla - 42 years, 39 days
- Cristiano Ronaldo - 41 years, 138 days
- Pat Jennings - 41 years, 0 days
Essam El-Hadary and the appearance record
El-Hadary’s appearance against Saudi Arabia in Russia made him the benchmark for longevity at the World Cup.
Goalkeepers tend to age more gracefully than outfield players, but his record still stands out because he was well beyond 45 when he stepped on the pitch.
The oldest goalscorer in World Cup history
Roger Milla remains the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, with his strike for Cameroon against Russia in 1994 coming at 42 years and 39 days. That finish has become one of the World Cup’s great longevity records, because it combines age, impact and a clean example of veteran quality in a knockout-era tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo moved into second place on the all-time scoring age list in 2026 when he scored at 41 years and 138 days. He also became the oldest player to score more than once in a World Cup match.
Oldest players in a World Cup final
Dino Zoff is the oldest player ever to appear in a World Cup final, doing so for Italy in 1982 at 40 years and 133 days. The oldest player to score in a final is Nils Liedholm, who found the net for Sweden in the 1958 final at 35 years and 264 days.
Those two records matter because finals are the hardest stage to reach, let alone influence at an advanced age. Zoff and Liedholm both proved that experience can still decide the biggest night of all.
The veterans of 2026
Craig Gordon leads the age list at the 2026 World Cup, and he is not alone among the tournament’s senior pros.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Guillermo Ochoa, Luka Modrić and Manuel Neuer are among the other 40-plus names giving the event a proper old-school edge.
Veterans like these rarely arrive at a World Cup by accident. They get there by staying fit, adjusting their game and keeping enough sharpness to handle the biggest stage in football.
FAQs
Who is the oldest player in World Cup history?
Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who played aged 45 years and 161 days in 2018.
Who is the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history?
Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who scored at 42 years and 39 days in 1994.
Who is the oldest player at the 2026 World Cup?
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, aged 43.
