Overview
- Final 26‑player squads are set for the tournament and include Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are each poised to appear at a record sixth World Cup that many outlets expect will be their last.
- Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer reversed his international retirement to join the squad, while Brazil named Neymar despite recent injury concerns that leave his playing time uncertain.
- Outfield veterans such as Luka Modrić and Edin Džeko join a group of players in their late 30s and 40s, but goalkeepers account for a large share of the tournament’s eldest selections because the position allows longer careers.
- Reporting compares these picks to past late‑career World Cup performers like Roger Milla, Peter Shilton and Miroslav Klose to underline that late‑career impact is possible yet often limited by pace and fitness.
- The presence of high‑profile veterans will heighten global attention and ticket sales while forcing coaches to manage minutes, monitor late injury replacements and use the expanded schedule to rotate squads.