This is a list of the oldest players ever to play in the FIFA World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup is a global phenomenon. Every four years, the world’s best soccer players gather to showcase their talent on the biggest stage.
But some defy expectations even further…
There are some special veterans who defy the odds to play in the World Cup at an old age.
That’s exactly what we’ll be looking at in this post. We’ll look at the oldest players to ever play in the World Cup.
These players prove that age is just a number.
Also, check out the The Youngest Players in FIFA World Cup History.
The Oldest Player Ever to Play at The World Cup
Essam El Hadary of Egypt is the oldest player ever to play in the FIFA World Cup.
The veteran goalkeeper was 45 years and 160 days old when he made his last appearance at the World Cup in 2018.
20 Oldest Players of All Time at the FIFA World Cup
Here’s a list of the 20 oldest players to play at the FIFA World Cup.
| Player | Country | Age | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essam El Hadary | Egypt | 45 years, 160 days | 2018 |
| Faryd Mondragón | Colombia | 43 years, 03 days | 2014 |
| Roger Milla | Cameroon | 42 years, 38 days | 1994 |
| Pat Jennings | Northern Ireland | 41 years | 1986 |
| Peter Shilton | England | 40 years, 289 days | 1990 |
| Dino Zoff | Italy | 40 years, 133 days | 1982 |
| Ali Boumnijel | Tunisia | 40 years, 40 days | 2006 |
| Jim Leighton | Scotland | 39 years 330 days | 1998 |
| David James | England | 39 years, 326 days | 2010 |
| Atiba Hutchinson | Canada | 39 years, 293 days | 2022 |
| Pepe | Portugal | 39 years, 284 days | 2022 |
| Ángel Labruna | Argentina | 39 years, 258 days | 1958 |
| Joseph-Antoine Bell | Cameroon | 39 years, 256 days | 1994 |
| Dani Alves | Brazil | 39 years, 209 days | 2022 |
| Sir Stanley Matthews | England | 39 years, 145 days | 1954 |
| Rafa Márquez | Mexico | 39 years, 139 days | 2018 |
| Kyu-chong Park | South Korea | 39 years, 60 days | 1954 |
| Sergey Ignashevich | Russia | 38 years, 353 days | 2018 |
| Jan Heintze | Denmark | 38 years, 290 days | 2002 |
| David Seaman | England | 38 years, 272 days | 2002 |
Interesting Fact: Out of the 20 oldest players, 10 (50%) are goalkeepers.
Thank You For Reading
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Which player do you think will break the record next?
Which old player has impressed you the most at the World Cup?
Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below right now!
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Read more about the FIFA World Cup:
- 50 FIFA World Cup Facts and Records
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Award Winners: All the MVPs of World Cup
- Who Has the Most Goals in FIFA World Cup? (All-time Top Goal Scorers)
- FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Winners: Top Scorers in Every Tournament
- Countries With The Most FIFA World Cup Wins
- Complete FIFA World Cup Winners List: Every Winner Since 1930
- FIFA World Cup Logo History: Every World Cup Logo Since 1930
- Players With The Most FIFA World Cup Appearances
