Across the previous 22 FIFA World Cups, only one outfield player aged over 40 has ever appeared: Cameroon forward Roger Milla, who starred at Italia ’90 and returned for USA ’94 at 42, according to ESPN. After this summer’s tournament, Milla may no longer stand alone in that group.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is set to play his sixth World Cup, while Croatia’s Luka Modric, 40, will appear in his fifth, ESPN reports. Qatar’s Sebastian Soria, 42, could also feature for the host nation. Bosnia-Herzegovina captain Edin Džeko, 40, helped steer his country to its second-ever World Cup and remains in the squad.
Džeko has outlined how a return to form and a move back to Schalke gave him fresh motivation. The striker, who has played for Teplice, Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Roma and Internazionale, said that Schalke’s fans and stadium provided “energy and emotional positivity” that helped him recommit to training and matches after an unsuccessful spell at Fiorentina, according to ESPN.
His route to the finals included two playoff victories. Džeko scored Bosnia-Herzegovina’s equalizer in the semifinal against Wales and the team advanced on penalties. In the playoff final versus Italy he set up Haris Tabakovic’s equalizer before Bosnia-Herzegovina prevailed in another shootout. “We had a tough path,” Džeko told ESPN. “The team really showed the quality of their personality and character.”
Other teammates and observers have emphasized what younger players can learn from Džeko. Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirovic said in March, “What can you not learn?,” highlighting the striker’s influence. ESPN has raised the question of whether the cluster of over-40 internationals this summer is coincidence, the result of exceptional individual longevity, or a sign of broader changes in sports science, nutrition and player management.
