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Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 102026 World Cup Featured 8 of 20 Oldest-Ever Players, Including Messi and Ronaldo
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 10Summary
- Eight of the 20 oldest players ever to appear in a World Cup match took the field in 2026, according to FIFA statistics.
- About 6% of players across the tournament’s 48 national-team squads were in their mid-30s or older, showing how far elite careers are stretching.
- Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić all remained central figures, producing decisive moments that could have fit either 2006 or 2026.
- The concentration of near-40 players marks a shift from earlier World Cups, when footballers in that age range were far rarer.
Insights
Science now lets athletes play into their 40s. What are the hidden physical and financial costs of this trend? With veterans like Messi and Ronaldo dominating, is football facing a crisis for its next generation of superstars?