• David James, of England, was 39 years, 10 months and 26 days when he played against Germany in a 4-1 defeat on June 27, 2010. AFP
    David James, of England, was 39 years, 10 months and 26 days when he played against Germany in a 4-1 defeat on June 27, 2010. AFP
  • Jim Leighton, of Scotland, was 39 years, 10 months and 30 days when he played against Morocco on June 23, 1998. His side lost 3-0. AFP
    Jim Leighton, of Scotland, was 39 years, 10 months and 30 days when he played against Morocco on June 23, 1998. His side lost 3-0. AFP
  • Ali Boumnijel, of Tunisia, was 40 years, 2 months and 10 days when he played against Ukraine on June 23, 2006. Getty
    Ali Boumnijel, of Tunisia, was 40 years, 2 months and 10 days when he played against Ukraine on June 23, 2006. Getty
  • Dino Zoff, of Italy, was 40 years, 4 months and 13 days when he played in the World Cup final against West Germany on July 11, 1982. His side won 3-1. Getty
    Dino Zoff, of Italy, was 40 years, 4 months and 13 days when he played in the World Cup final against West Germany on July 11, 1982. His side won 3-1. Getty
  • Peter Shilton, of England, was 40 years, 9 months and 19 days when he faced Italy on July 7, 1990. Getty
    Peter Shilton, of England, was 40 years, 9 months and 19 days when he faced Italy on July 7, 1990. Getty
  • Pat Jennings of Northern Ireland turned 41 on the day he lined up against Brazil on June 12, 1986. His side lost 3-0. Getty
    Pat Jennings of Northern Ireland turned 41 on the day he lined up against Brazil on June 12, 1986. His side lost 3-0. Getty
  • Roger Milla, of Cameroon, was 42 years, 1 month and 8 days when he played against Russia (a 6-1 defeat) on June 28, 1994. Getty
    Roger Milla, of Cameroon, was 42 years, 1 month and 8 days when he played against Russia (a 6-1 defeat) on June 28, 1994. Getty
  • Goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon of Colombia was 43 years and 3 days when he played against Japan on June 24, 2014. Getty
    Goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon of Colombia was 43 years and 3 days when he played against Japan on June 24, 2014. Getty
  • Essam El Hadary, of Egypt, was 45 years and 161 days when he played against Saudi Arabia on June 25, 2018. He saved a penalty, but his side lost 2-1. EPA
    Essam El Hadary, of Egypt, was 45 years and 161 days when he played against Saudi Arabia on June 25, 2018. He saved a penalty, but his side lost 2-1. EPA

Football

Oldest World Cup players list now topped by Egypt's Essam El Hadary - in pictures

The 45-year-old goalkeeper made his World Cup debut against Saudi Arabia

Ian Oxborrow
Ian Oxborrow

June 26, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

The penalty was struck hard enough to the goalkeeper's right for Saudi Arabia's Fahad Al Muwallad to expect to see the net rippling a fraction of a second later.

But then an arm stretched out to produce an incredible save, pushing the ball on to the underside of the crossbar and out to safety. Players poured in to congratulate the goalkeeper while jubilant fans jumped up and down behind the goal.

Watching from a distance you might think it was David de Gea or Manuel Neuer producing such a moment of flexibility and quick reactions. It was actually a 45-year-old making his World Cup debut.

Egyptian Essam El Hadary showed the agility of a man 20 years his junior as he marked an occasion, which would have been memorable enough even if he had not saved a penalty.

He became the World Cup's oldest player at 45 years and 161 days, eclipsing the previous record held by Colombia keeper Faryd Mondragon, who was 43 years and three days when he played at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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Read more:

World Cup: Who's going through to the knockout stage and who will they face?

World Cup 2018: Day 13 updates - Messi's Argentina face Nigeria test

Mohamed Salah shows disappointment as his World Cup ends - in pictures

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"What I accomplished in this tournament was the result of years of hard work, dedicated training and suffering that only a few know about," he told Fifa.com after his 159th appearance for his country.

Egypt manager Hector Cuper said after his side's 2-1 defeat, which means they go home without any points, that El Hadary was "the right person to play" because there "is not much between our three goalkeepers".

For obvious physical reasons, the oldest players in World Cup history have predominantly been goalkeepers, although Cameroon strikers Roger Milla was an exception.

He played at the World Cup in 1994 and scored Cameroon's consolation goal in a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Russia in a group match to become the oldest scorer at a World Cup, at the age of 42 years, 1 month and 8 days.

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