Overview
- A record eight players aged 40 or older were named to final World Cup squads for the tournament that opens on June 11, giving this edition the largest veteran contingent in the competition’s history.
- Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is the oldest outfield player and was selected for a record sixth World Cup, while Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 43, is the oldest squad member but is expected to serve as a backup to Angus Gunn.
- Most of the over-40 selections are goalkeepers, including Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa and Germany’s Manuel Neuer, but a handful of outfield veterans such as Luka Modrić and Edin Džeko remain in contention to play meaningful minutes.
- Coaches and reports credit modern training, diet, recovery and medical care for extending careers, and Portugal coach Roberto Martinez singled out Ronaldo’s continued motivation as a key reason for his longevity.
- The presence of so many veterans — one more than in all previous 22 tournaments combined — highlights a shift in how national teams balance experience and sports science when finalizing 26-player rosters.