It could be a World Cup scene from 2006 or 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo teeing up for a penalty kick to put Portugal through; Lionel Messi scoring for Argentina; Luka Modrić driving Croatia’s attack.
Players in their mid-30s and older used to be rare. In 2026, they made up about 6% of the 48 national team squads. And more of them than ever are on the cusp of middle age, widely considered to begin at 40. Eight of the 20 oldest ever to play in a World Cup match took the field in 2026, according to FIFA statistics.
Propelled by advancements in science and medicine — and incentivized by lucrative contracts and sponsorships — players are doing everything they can to stay in the game a little bit longer. Looking more broadly, the proportion of players who have entered their 30s has also increased with time.
