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The oldest and youngest FIFA World Cup players
SEN • May 28th, 2026 3:29 pm
Who are the oldest and youngest players to grace a World Cup pitch?
We have taken a look at the top seven elder statesmen and top seven young guns who represented their respective nations on football's biggest stage.
See the lists below:
Oldest World Cup players
1 - Essam El Hadary (Egypt)
Egyptian goalkeeper who was 45 years 05 months 10 days against Saudi Arabia in 2018.
2 - Faryd Mondragón (Colombia)
Colombian gloveman was 43 years 03 days against Japan in 2014.
3 - Roger Milla (Cameroon)
Legendary Cameroonian attacker who was 42 years 01 month 08 days when scoring against Russia in 1994. Remains the oldest outfield player in WC history.
4 - Pat Jennings (Norther Ireland)
Norther Irish keeper was 41 years 00 days against Brazil in 1986.
5 - Peter Shilton (England)
England's sturdy custodian was 40 years 09 months 19 days against Italy in 1990.
6 - Dino Zoff (Italy)
Yet another goalkeeper, Zoff was 40 years 04 months 13 days against Germany in 1982.
7 - Ali Boumnijel (Tunisia)
And another gloveman, Boumnijel was 40 years 02 months 10 days against Ukraine in 2006.
8 - Jim Leighton (Scotland)
Scottish keeper who was 39 years 10 months 30 days against Morocco in 1998.
9 - David James (England)
James was 39 years 10 months 26 days when he was in goal for England against Germany in 2010.
10 - Atiba Hutchinson (Canada)
The second oldest outfield player behind Milla. Hutchinson was 39 years 09 months 23 days against Morocco in 2022.
Youngest World Cup players
1 - Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland)
Northern Irishman who was 17 years 01 month 10 days when he stepped out against Yugoslavia in 1982.
2 - Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)
Eto'o, who would go on to become his nation's top scorer, played when 17 years 03 months 07 days against Italy in 1998.
3 - Femi Opabunmi (Nigeria)
Nigerian winger who played against England in 2002 at the age of 17 years 03 months 09 days.
4 - Salomon Olembé (Cameroon)
Midfielder who was just 17 years 06 months 03 days when he played against Austria, also in 1998.
5 - Pelé (Brazil)
Where World Cup dominance all started for Pelé. He was 17 years 07 months 23 days against the Soviet Union in 1958. He would then score six goals in his next three outings as Brazil won the title.
6 - Bartholomew Ogbeche (Nigeria)
The Nigerian centre forward was 17 years 08 months 02 days when he played against Argentina in 2002.
7 - Rigobert Song (Cameroon)
Song was just 17 years 11 months 19 days when he started his World Cup journey on the way to becoming the most-capped Cameroonian against Sweden in 1994.
The FIFA World Cup 26™ in the USA, Mexico and Canada kicks off on Friday, June 12. You can hear EVERY GAME LIVE across the SEN network.
