Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and the eight fortysomethings at the 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

Eight players aged 40 or over are at the 2026 World Cup, including Ballon d'Or winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who turned 40 earlier this month and plays for Chaves in Portugal's second tier, made seven saves in a 0-0 draw with Spain on Monday, the country's first match at the tournament.

According to L'Équipe, the eight represent a larger tally than the seven over-40s to have appeared at any previous World Cup, and not all in this group are certain to get minutes. The trend endures in 2026, with five goalkeepers among the eight.

The veteran keepers are Manuel Neuer of Germany, 40, Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico, 40, Fernando Muslera of Uruguay, who turns 40 on Tuesday, Craig Gordon of Scotland, 43, and Vozinha. Vozinha, Neuer and Muslera have already played at this World Cup, entering the top 10 oldest players to appear, while Ochoa and Gordon were back-up for their nations' openers.

Among the outfielders are Ronaldo, 41, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, and Modric, 40, the 2018 recipient. Ronaldo is at his sixth World Cup, Modric at his fifth.

The list is completed by Edin Dzeko, 40, who stayed on the bench against Canada on Friday. The Schalke striker is Bosnia and Herzegovina's record appearance maker with 148 caps and leading scorer with 73 goals, and he captains his country, a duty shared only by the outfielders in this age group.

Source: L'Équipe