The oldest players at this year’s World Cup

No one at this year’s World Cup will beat the record of Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who played for his country in Russia in 2018 when he was 45 years and 161 days old. However, there will still be some veterans playing at an age when many of their peers have already hung up their boots.

Not surprisingly, goalkeepers again feature among the oldest, although the only 40-year-old will be Mexican stopper Alfredo Talavera.

He made his international debut back in 2011, but he has not always started for his country between the sticks, reason why he has the same number of caps as he has years.

There will be five 39-year-olds which include Brazilian full-back Dani Alves. He is one of the most decorated players in the history of the game, and has won 46 senior titles. Those include two Confederations Cup and two Copa América titles with Brazil and Olympic gold from last year.

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He already has 124 caps to his name and will be hoping to bow out at the top with a World Cup winner’s medal to add to his collection.

Meanwhile, Atiba Hutchinson must have thought he would never play in a World Cup since the last time Canada qualified for it he was just three years old. However, their surprise emergence as top qualifiers in their CONCACAF qualifying group, means that the midfielder finally gets his belated chance. He also should pass another milestone as he is two short of the 100 cap mark at present.

Another veteran defender, Pepe, will be in his fourth World Cup for Portugal. He was actually born in Brazil but chose to play for the Portuguese national team making his debut for them in 2007, and subsequently earning 129 caps.

Despite his comparative age, he has lost none of the competitiveness that has made him one of the best defenders in the world over the past 15 years. Portugal fans, though, will be hoping he can curb his tendency to pick up cards, and his penchant for violent and unsporting behaviour.

Another player who will be making his fourth successive World Cup appearance is Japanese goalkeeper Elji Kawashima, who currently plays his club football in Ligue 1 in France with Strasbourg.

His debut came in 2008 and he has 95 caps to his name, although he will probably not be a starter in Qatar.

While most of the players on this list have already had international experience, Dutch goalkeeper Remko Pasveer does not. Although he was part of the Netherlands squad that won the UEFA European under-21 Championships back in 2006, much of his subsequent career, had been spent playing for largely unfashionable Eredivisie clubs, until he signed for Ajax aged 37.

Very much the third choice, he got his chance in the first team when number one André Onana was suspended for a doping offence, and his deputy Maarten Stekelenburg got injured. So impressive was Pasveer’s form from Ajax that he earned a belated call-up to the Dutch national squad two months ago.

He is unlikely to play unless there are injuries, but just being in Qatar is an experience in itself for the 39 year old.