Once players reach the age of 35, football can be a challenging sport to master. But occasionally, we see outstanding athletes who show that age is just a number and that anyone can perform at the top level with the proper discipline and perseverance. Even in their later years, a select few extraordinary people have defied time and left their mark on the world’s grandest stages. Examples include Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently became the third-oldest players to score in a World Cup game. Cameroonian great Roger Milla is the oldest goal scorer in a FIFA World Cup game.
Here is a list of the oldest players that have scored in the largest football competition in history.
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5. CUAUHTEMOC BLANCO
- AGE: 37 Years 151 days
- COUNTRY: MEXICO
One of the greatest Mexican footballers of all time, Cuauhtemoc Blanco played 119 times for his country and scored 38 goals. At the age of 37 years and 151 days, he scored in a historic 2-0 victory over France that year.
4. GUNNAR GREN
- AGE: 37 Years 236 days
- COUNTRY: SWEDEN
Gunnar Gren is well-known for his time with AC Milan, and the attacker was crucial to Sweden’s 1948 Olympic Gold-winning team. When he scored the game-winning goal to defeat the defending champions, he was 37 years and 236 days old. He held the record for the longest period of any player for the oldest goal scorer (broken by Milla after 36 years).
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3. CRISTIANO RONALDO
- AGE: 37 Years 295 days
- COUNTRY: PORTUGAL
Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored the opening goal for his team in Qatar 2022, is largely responsible for Portugal’s desire to win their first FIFA World Cup. He scored on a penalty kick in the second half to make history by becoming the first player to score in five distinct tournament iterations. Ronaldo, who was 37 years and 295 days old at the time, moved up to the position of the second-oldest players to score in a FIFA World Cup game.
2. PEPE
- AGE: 39 Years 284 days
- COUNTRY: PORTUGAL
He is, a Portuguese defender, is regarded as one of his generation’s top defenders. Pepe, who had brilliant success at the professional level with Real Madrid, also led Portugal to the 2016 UEFA Euro title. Portugal defeated Switzerland 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Despite being born and reared in Brazil, he choose to play for Portugal and has 129 caps. Pepe scored the goal two months before his 40th birthday. Pepe’s goal made him the World Cup knockout round’s oldest scorer than well.
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1. ROGER MILLA
- AGE: 42 Years 39 days
- COUNTRY: CAMEROON
For his team’s performance in Italia ’90, the seasoned forward from Cameroon, Roger Milla was persuaded to come out of retirement, and he quickly scored and danced his way into World Cup mythology. The Indomitable Lions, Milla’s 1994 side, did not proceed past the group stage, but he did score the game-winning goal in a historic win over Russia. He became the oldest player to ever score in a World Cup just over a month after turning 42.
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