No Room for Old-Timers? Ronaldo, Modrić, Džeko Say Otherwise

The upcoming 23rd World Cup, set to begin in Mexico, will feature a record eight players aged 40 and above, a number exceeding the combined total from all previous 22 tournaments. This remarkable inclusion highlights the enduring careers of veteran footballers defying age expectations.

Among the notable elder statesmen is Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 41, is the oldest outfield player and is participating in his sixth World Cup. He shares this distinction with Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and Lionel Messi, who will soon turn 39. The oldest player overall will be 43-year-old Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who could become the second oldest participant in World Cup history, behind Egypt's Essam El Hadary.

Other prominent players in the 40+ club include Luka Modrić, who is expected to bid farewell to the Croatian national team after this tournament, and Edin Džeko, representing Bosnia and Herzegovina. Goalkeepers Manuel Neuer of Germany and Fernando Muslera of Uruguay are also among the veterans. Despite recent injury concerns, both Messi and Ronaldo are expected to participate, with Ronaldo aiming to extend his record of scoring in five consecutive World Cups.

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No one has experienced what he has experienced, regarding the number of decisive matches he has played in his career. He also brings experience in decisive moments that no one else in the national team has.