Whoever mentioned you are over the hill after turning 40 by no means noticed a number of the world’s greatest soccer stars.
The FIFA World Cup begins Thursday and runs via July 19, with matches being performed throughout 16 host cities in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The match options seven gamers aged 40 or older — a World Cup file. Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will be a part of them when he turns 40 on June 16.
With that in thoughts, here is a take a look at 5 members of the World Cup’s 40-and-over membership:
Portugal ahead Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo, 41, stays in peak bodily situation because of a strict diet that excludes dairy merchandise. His former chef, Giorgio Barone, mentioned it is irregular to devour these in maturity. The ahead substitutes them with almond, oat and rice milk merchandise. He additionally avoids conventional carbohydrates like pasta and bread and eats greens to switch them.
Does not Ronaldo know milk does a physique good? No matter you consider his weight loss plan, you may’t argue with the outcomes. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner because the world’s greatest participant, has 25 targets in his previous 31 matches for Portugal.
Portugal supervisor Roberto Martinez famous in Might that Ronaldo’s fixed want to enhance, even when it requires dietary sacrifices, has helped prolong his profession.
“Cristiano will not be outlined by what he eats, however by the starvation he possesses. No matter Cristiano wins, the very subsequent day he has the identical starvation to enhance,” Martinez said (h/t ESPN’s Adriana Garcia).
The insatiable starvation might assist Ronaldo win his first World Cup. A stacked Portugal squad that features midfielder Bruno Fernandes offers him a robust probability of doing so in what might be his final look within the quadrennial match.
Croatia midfielder Luka Modric
Modric, 40, focuses on utilizing resistance bands in his coaching routine quite than heavy weights, like former New England Patriots/Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
Per The Athletic’s Michael Walker, Modric spends 30 to 45 minutes a day exercising with elastic bands to take care of leg muscle with out shedding flexibility. That has stored his legs contemporary.
In 34 matches this season for Sequence A AC Milan, he has performed 2,811 minutes, the second most in his 19-year club career.
Modric underwent surgery for a fractured cheekbone he suffered in a match against Juventus in April. Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic said at the crew’s roster reveal in Might that he does not anticipate this affecting his availability for the World Cup, and he’ll put on a masks to guard his face.
Mexico goalie Guillermo Ochoa
Ochoa, who turns 41 on July 13, might be a part of Ronaldo and Argentinian Lionel Messi, who turns 39 on June 24, as the one gamers to play in six World Cups. The goalie, nevertheless, is not evaluating himself to 2 of the perfect gamers ever.
“They’re mild years forward of me by way of what they’ve completed of their careers, the targets they’ve scored, the titles they’ve gained,” he told the Los Angeles Occasions’ Jad El Reda for a latest story. “I do not examine myself to them in any respect. However the perfect factor can be, if in the future, we might see a Mexican on that checklist.”
Ochoa’s nationwide delight has made him a fan favourite in Mexico. His recognition has helped him secure a partnership with Dairy Queen, which introduced again the Arroz con Leche Blizzard, obtainable via July 31. The candy deal with combines ice cream with rice pudding, cinnamon, sugar and crunchy waffle items.
Mexico followers hope he helps the crew style candy victory by advancing previous the World Cup’s Spherical of 16 for the primary time since 1986.
Scotland goalie Craig Gordon
Gordon is the oldest participant within the 2026 World Cup. He’ll be 43 years and 162 days previous initially of the occasion, making him the second-oldest participant to take part within the match if he performs. Egyptian goalie Essam El-Hadary grew to become the oldest participant (45 years, 161 days) to start out within the World Cup in 2018 in a match towards Saudi Arabia.
Scotland hasn’t named Gordon, who’s battling a shoulder damage, as its high goalie, giving that position to Angus Gunn. However maybe they’re going to roll him out within the group stage as a send-off.
Gordon has performed 22 seasons for Scotland however has by no means appeared within the World Cup. He by no means thought he would play in a single and nearly retired earlier than supervisor Steve Clarke satisfied him to not. He is glad he did not.
“That one second there tonight, that’s price all the things, all of the disappointments, all of the exhausting work, all of the years that I have been making an attempt,” Gordon said after Scotland certified for the World Cup following a 4-2 win over Denmark in November 2025 (h/t ESPN).
Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead Edin Dzeko
Dzeko, 40, earned the nickname “Kloc,” which translates to “lamppost,” when he started taking part in soccer due to his clumsiness. Nowadays, he goes by a a lot better moniker, “The Bosnian Diamond.”
Dzeko has turn into the nation’s all-time main goalscorer (73 in 148 matches). He scored six in World Cup qualifying in 2026.
Alongside along with his storied profession, Dzeko’s survival of the Bosnian Warfare (1992-95) throughout childhood has made him a sporting hero in his nation. He gained the 2016 State Award for Sports activities, the best recognition the Bosnian and Herzegovinian authorities grants for contributions to sports activities. Not unhealthy for a former “lamppost.”
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