Which World Cup goalscorers of past and present have been the oldest to score at the tournament? And which experienced players might join the list in 2026?
After Mexico’s Raul Jimenez netted in the 2026 World Cup opener vs South Africa at the stately age of 35, it got us wondering which players make it onto the list of oldest World Cup goalscorers. In this article, we’ve rounded out the ten most elderly finishers in the tournament’s history, and explored which players could earn a spot on the list by the close of this year’s edition.
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Oldest players to score at a World Cup
Which experienced stars of past and present have bagged a goal at the World Cup in the twilight of their career? Here are the oldest World Cup scorers:
Rank | Player | Age | Nationality | World Cup edition |
1 | Roger Milla | 42 years 39 days | Cameroon | 1994 |
2 | Pepe | 39 years 283 days | Portugal | 2022 |
3 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 37 years 292 days | Portugal | 2022 |
4 | Gunnar Gren | 37 years 236 days | Sweden | 1958 |
5 | Cuauhtemoc Blanco | 37 years 151 days | Mexico | 2010 |
6 | Felipe Baloy | 37 years 120 days | Panama | 2018 |
7 | Obdulio Varela | 36 years 279 days | Uruguay | 1954 |
8 | Martin Palermo | 36 years 227 days | Argentina | 2010 |
9 | Georges Bregy | 36 years 152 days | Switzerland | 1994 |
10 | Olivier Giroud | 36 years 71 days | France | 2022 |
Interestingly, three of the ten oldest players to score at the World Cup found the net last time out, including Portuguese pair Pepe and Ronaldo; while Panama’s Felipe Baloy was 37 years old when he netted similarly-recently in 2018.
Who might join the list of oldest World Cup scorers in 2026?
There are a handful of aged outfielders competing at the 2026 World Cup. With this more-than-likely the last ever World Cup for all involved, it’s their final chance of netting and landing a place among the oldest goalscorers:
Player | Nationality | Age (start of tournament) |
Luka Modric | Croatia | 40 years 275 days |
Edin Dzeko | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 40 years 86 days |
Yuto Nagatomo | Japan | 39 years 272 days |
Lionel Messi | Argentina | 38 years 352 days |
Tim Ream | USA | 38 years 249 days |
Alberto Quintero | Panama | 38 years 175 days |
Nicolas Otamendi | Argentina | 38 years 119 days |
Stopira | Cabo Verde | 38 years 22 days |
Michael Boxall | New Zealand | 37 years 297 days |
Lionel Messi is perhaps the most obvious of the lot – he’ll be celebrating his 39th birthday during the tournament, so a goal at any point would position him comfortably as the third oldest scorer. It’s considered likely too, with the forward given favourable odds of being Argentina’s top goalscorer – 1/1 .
Meanwhile, 40-year-old Luka Modric could secure second with a tournament goal. The Croatian playmaker hasn’t found the net at the tournament since 2018, but he’ll be keen to head out on a high. In any case, he’ll join the list of oldest players in World Cup history if he gets minutes.
After Bosnia and Herzegovina earned a coveted World Cup spot via the playoffs, Edin Dzeko’s hopes of joining the list are well and truly alive, too. He’ll expect to collect his 150th cap over the course of the tournament and would welcome an accompanying goal.
Other potential names to enter the mix include senior Japanese full back Yuto Nagatomo, experienced USA defender Tim Ream, Panama winger Alberto Quintero, Argentina centre half Nicolas Otamendi, Cabo Verde left back Stopira, and New Zealand defender Michael Boxall. All are at least 37 years old so would usurp a handful of stars on the existing list.
Finally, a notable mention has to go to Cristiano Ronaldo. Though he already features, CR7 could move up the list if he scores at any point for Portugal. The legendary forward enters the tournament aged 41 – but he looks as hungry as ever in front of goal. His last World Cup goal came four years ago, aged 37 years old.
