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The oldest male FIFA World Cup players are all goalkeepers!

Essam El-Hadary, an Egyptian goalkeeper, is the oldest player in the men's FIFA World Cup. Peter Shilton, who has played for England the most.

All football players aspire to play for as long as they can, but only a select few are able to maintain their level of fitness. Even some of them improve with time.

Even though some of this generation's top players, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, are competing in their final World Cup in Qatar, they are by no means the oldest players to have competed in football's biggest event.

The list of football players who were the oldest to compete in the FIFA World Cup is dominated by goalkeepers.

The oldest male FIFA World Cup players are all goalkeepers!

Player	Age	Edition
Essam El-Hadary (Egypt)	45 years, 161 days	Russia 2018
Faryd Mondragon (Colombia)	43 years, 3 days	Brazil 2014
Roger Milla (Cameroon)	42 years, 39 days	USA 1994
Pat Jennings (Northern Ireland)	41 years, 0 days	Mexico 1986
Peter Shilton (England)	40 years, 292 days	Italy 1990
Dino Zoff (Italy)	40 years, 133 days	Spain 1982
Ali Boumnijel (Tunisia)	40 years, 71 days	Germany 2006
Jim Leighton (Scotland)	39 years, 334 days	France 1998
David James (England)	39 years, 330 days	South Africa 2010
Angel Labruna (East Germany)	39 years, 260 days	Sweden 1958

Egypt's Essam El-Hadary is 45 years old and 161 days.

Essam El-Hadary made his FIFA World Cup debut in 2018 against Saudi Arabia, 45 years and 161 days after making his Egypt debut.

The Pharaohs entered the Saudi Arabia game having lost their previous group games to Uruguay and Egypt. Egypt was in trouble against Saudi Arabia and would have conceded in the first half if El-brilliant Hadary hadn't saved a penalty kick from Fahad Al-penalty Muwallad.

On that day, Essam El-Hadary became not only the oldest footballer to play in the FIFA World Cup, but also the oldest debutant, as well as the first African goalkeeper, to save a penalty in the World Cup.

El-Hadary played 159 times for Egypt during his international career. Between 2006 and 2010, he was a member of the Egyptian teams that won a hat-trick of AFCON titles.

Faryd Mondragon (Colombia) is 43 years and 3 days old.

When Faryd Mondragon of Colombia took the field for Colombia's final group match against Japan in 2014, he was 43 years and three days old, making him the oldest footballer to compete at the FIFA World Cup prior to Essam El-Hadary in 2018.

However, Faryd Mondragon still holds a few records. Prior to competing in 2014, Faryd Mondragon participated in the 1998 World Cup for Colombia. The wait between two World Cup games was the longest ever for a player.

The Colombian, who was on the bench during Colombia's 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Brazil in 2014, is also the oldest player left in the FIFA World Cup playoffs. Soon after Colombia was eliminated, Mondragon made his retirement announcement.

Roger Milla (Cameroon) is 42 years and 39 days old.

Roger Milla of Cameroon is the third-oldest player to compete in the FIFA World Cup, at 42 years and 39 days. He is, however, the only striker in the top five.

Milla scored Cameroon's lone goal in a 6-1 thrashing by Russia in the 1994 group stage. With five goals in the same game, Oleg Salenko of Russia set the record for the most goals scored by a single player in a FIFA World Cup game.

Roger Milla scored 43 goals in 77 games over the course of his more than 20-year career.

Pat Jennings, 41, of Northern Ireland

When he took the field in the 1986 World Cup group stage match against powerful Brazil, Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pat Jennings was 41 years old. As was to be expected, the Brazilian team celebrated by defeating the birthday boy 3-0 and scoring three goals in the process.

After participating in 119 games for his nation between 1964 and 1986, Pat Jennings announced his retirement the same year.

Peter Shilton (England) is 40 years and 292 days old.

Famous for being the goalkeeper against whom legendary Maradona scored the 'Hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup final, England goalkeeper Peter Shilton became the oldest footballer to appear in a World Cup game in 1990.

When Peter Shilton captained England in the third-place play-off against Italy in 1990, he was 40 years and 292 days old. England lost 2-1.

Shilton retired following the World Cup, but not before becoming England's most-capped men's player, with 125 appearances between 1970 and 1990.

The FIFA Women's World Cup's oldest player

Formiga, Brazil - 41 years and 112 days

At 41 years and 112 days old, Brazilian midfielder Formiga became the oldest player to compete in the FIFA Women's World Cup during Brazil's 2019 quarterfinal loss to France, which they also lost 2-1. Formiga is the only athlete to have participated in seven FIFA World Cups in both men's and women's competitions. She has also played in seven Olympic Games, making her the first female football player to do so.

After playing 234 matches for Brazil, Formiga made her debut in 1995 and announced her retirement in 2021.