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June 18, 2026
Age is one of the quieter storylines at the 2026 World Cup, but it matters more than usual this time. With Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, Manuel Neuer and several other veterans still involved, the race to be the tournament’s oldest player has become a proper talking point...
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features legendary veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, and Manuel Neuer. In fact, seven players at this tournament are aged 40 or older, so the question of whether Ronaldo is the oldest football player at the 2026 World Cup naturally follows. We followed the tournament squads closely and dug into the confirmed age data to give you a definitive answer. Below, we break down exactly where Ronaldo ranks among the oldest players in the competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Reaction after the World Cup debut
Não era o arranque que queríamos, mas isto está longe de ter acabado. Cabeça levantada e foco no próximo jogo. pic.twitter.com/YoH3RQcz9z
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 17, 2026
No, Ronaldo is not the oldest football player at the 2026 World Cup. That title belongs to Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who is 43 years and 162 days old. Ronaldo comes in second at 41 years and 126 days.
Six of the top ten oldest players in this competition are goalkeepers, which reflects how the position tends to extend careers well into the late 30s and 40s. Ronaldo stands out as the oldest outfield player in the 2026 World Cup.
Here is the full ranking of the oldest players at the 2026 World Cup:
Despite his age, Ronaldo's odds to win the World Cup with Portugal continue to attract significant attention across betting markets. Providers across the list of online bookmakers in Ireland are already posting competitive odds on Portugal going deep in the tournament, even after a disappointing result against DR Congo in the first match of the group stage.
No. Ronaldo is the fourth-oldest player to ever appear at a World Cup. Egypt's Essam El Hadary holds the all-time record at 45 years and 161 days, set at the 2018 tournament.
Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón is second at 43 years and 3 days, followed by Cameroon legend Roger Milla at 42 years and 38 days. Ronaldo sits fourth on the all-time list at 41 years and 126 days.
Here is how Ronaldo compares to the oldest players in World Cup history:
The Portuguese superstar’s on track to break a few records in the tournament. However, considering Ronaldo has never won a World Cup, he might trade it all for the glorious trophy.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Portugal is on June 23, against Uzbekistan, for the FIFA World Cup. You can watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan, Czech Republic vs South Africa, Mexico vs South Korea, USA vs Australia, Switzerland vs Bosnia and Canada vs Qatar, all matches provided from our sports stream game pages.
Portugal next game:
Portugal vs Uzbekistan kick-off time (23-06-2026):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 01:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 22:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+4: 21:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+2: 19:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+1: 18:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 14:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 13:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 10:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / transfermarkt.com / reddit.com / goal.com
