Is Cristiano Ronaldo the oldest player to ever appear at the World Cup?
Many football fans across the planet are asking exactly that after Roberto Martinez selected the former Manchester United and Real Madrid talisman to start against DR Congo at the age of 41 – as Portugal begin their World Cup campaign in Group K.
Incidentally, there are actually three players older than Ronaldo to have appeared at the World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the fourth-oldest World Cup player
The record for oldest player to appear at a World Cup belongs to Essam El Hadary.
The Egyptian actually set the record fairly recently at the 2018 World Cup, starting against Saudi Arabia at the age of 45 years and 161 days.
El Hadary is followed by Faryd Mondragon and Roger Milla – who lined up for Colombia and Cameroon at the ages of 43 years and three days, and 42 years and 39 days respectively.
Ronaldo – who Lionel Messi has outscored at the last two World Cups – has now leapfrogged Northern Ireland legend Pat Jennings to secure fourth spot on this list, having been selected to start for Portugal against DR Congo at the age of 41 years and 132 days old.
- Essam El Hadary – Egypt vs Saudi Arabia (25 June 2018) – 45 years, 161 days
- Faryd Mondragon – Colombia vs Japan (24 June 2014) – 43 years, 3 days
- Roger Milla – Cameroon vs Russia (28 June 1994) – 42 years, 39 days
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal vs DR Congo (17 June 2026) – 41 years, 132 days
- Pat Jennings – Northern Ireland vs Brazil (12 June 1986) – 41 years, 0 days
- Peter Shilton – England vs Italy (7 July 1990) – 40 years, 292 days
- Dino Zoff – Italy vs Germany (11 July 1982) – 40 years, 133 days
- Manuel Neuer – Germany vs Curacao (14 June 2026) – 40 years, 79 days
- Ali Boumnijel – Tunisia vs Ukraine (23 June 2006) – 40 years, 71 days
- Vozinha – Cape Verde vs Spain (15 June 2026) – 40 years, 12 days
- Fernando Muslera – Uruguay v Saudi Arabia (15 June 2026) – 39 years, 364 days
