Most goals, most appearances, fastest strikes. Some World Cup records look possible, while others seem untouchable. And there’s one in particular that feels as though it belongs in a dusty attic, wrapped in bubble wrap and protected by a “do not touch” sign.

Back in 1994, Cameroon legend Roger Milla scored against Russia at the age of 42 years and 39 days, becoming the oldest player ever to find the net at a FIFA World Cup. More than three decades later, nobody has come particularly close to knocking him off his perch.

So could that change in 2026?

The upcoming tournament features a surprising collection of soccer’s elder statesmen. While goalkeepers tend to age like fine wine, outfield players usually don’t get invited to World Cup parties once they reach their 40s. Yet several household names will arrive in North America with birth certificates that would shock their younger teammates.

The current top 20 list of oldest World Cup scorers includes familiar names such as Pepe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Olivier Giroud and Lionel Messi.

The oldest goalscorers in World Cup history:

1. Roger Milla (Cameroon) — 42 years, 39 days
2. Pepe (Portugal) — 39 years, 283 days
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) — 37 years, 292 days
4. Gunnar Gren (Sweden) — 37 years, 236 days
5. Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Mexico) — 37 years, 151 days
6. Felipe Baloy (Panama) — 37 years, 120 days
7. Obdulio Varela (Uruguay) — 36 years, 279 days
8. Martín Palermo (Argentina) — 36 years, 227 days
9. Georges Bregy (Switzerland) — 36 years, 152 days
10. Olivier Giroud (France) — 36 years, 71 days

Just outside the top 10 are Tom Finney (36 years, 64 days) and Miroslav Klose (36 years, 29 days).

Among players at the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo is already third on the list, while Lionel Messi sits 15th at 35 years and 177 days. Luka Modrić and Edin Džeko are not currently in the top 20 but could jump straight into the all-time top five with a goal in 2026.

Which players could break Milla’s record?

If anyone is going to finally chase down Milla, Ronaldo appears the most realistic candidate but he can’t actually overtake him in this, surely his last, World Cup. Portugal’s captain will be 41 years and 132 days old when they face DR Congo in Game 1 and 41 years and 164 days old by the time the final comes around. So a goal in this tournament and he’ll leapfrog Pepe to take his place as second oldest scorer.

Messi was born on June 24, 1987, so for the first Argentina game he will be 38 years and 357 days old and for the final, 39 years and 25 days old. Yes, happy birthday comes for the little genius during the competition. If Ronaldo doesn’t score, a Messi goal will take him into third place. If they both score, Messi should be fourth.

Another potential age shaker is Croatia’s Luka Modrić, who will be 40 years and 281 days old for the first group game against England and 40 years and 313 days old for the final. Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Edin Džeko is just a little younger.

So nobody, right? Well, actually there is one man, possibly wearing a kilt, who could take the oldie scoring title.

But it’s a long shot.

Scotland’s Craig Gordon will be 43 years and 164 days old, a massive 490 days older than Milla’s record age. He is however the goalkeeper, and likely not first choice. But, if the glove-clad gods are smiling on him, maybe, just maybe, he is given the role of penalty taker – against Brazil in game 3 for added narrative – and he would obliterate the record and become the oldest scorer in tournament history.

We have a dream...

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