A look at the oldest men to play at World Cup as Craig Gordon seeks to join list

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon is on course to become the second-oldest man to play at a World Cup if he makes an appearance for Scotland in North America next summer.

The 42-year-old – who started the Scots’ last two matches against Greece and Denmark – celebrates his next birthday on December 31 so will be 43 years and five months old by the time the global showpiece kicks off in mid-June.

Here, we look at the five oldest men to previously appear at a World Cup.

Essam El Hadary (Egypt)

Former goalkeeper El Hadary is the oldest man to play at a World Cup after achieving the feat at Russia 2018. He was not his country’s first choice at that tournament but was given the chance to make history by starting the third game against Saudi Arabia aged 45 years and 161 days old.

Faryd Mondragon (Colombia)

For four years, goalkeeper Mondragon held the accolade as the oldest man to play at the tournament after appearing at Brazil 2014 three days after he turned 43. Mondragon, who was in the squad two decades earlier for USA 94, was not his country’s first choice in 2014 but started their final group match against Japan before retiring immediately after the tournament.

Roger Milla (Cameroon)

Having lit up Italia 90 by scoring four goals aged 38, Cameroon forward Milla returned four years later to become – for two decades at least – the oldest player to play at a World Cup when he featured as a substitute, aged 42, in two of their three group games at USA 94. Milla remains the oldest outfield player and the oldest scorer at the tournament after notching against Russia in 1994.

Pat Jennings (Northern Ireland)

Having previously featured in all four of Northern Ireland’s matches at the 1982 World Cup, former Tottenham and Arsenal goalkeeper Jennings got the chance to have a career swansong at the 1986 renewal in Mexico. Despite having already retired from club football, Jennings started all three of his country’s matches in Mexico, including the last one against Brazil on his 41st birthday when he became the oldest player to play at a World Cup.

Peter Shilton (England)

Appearing at his third World Cup, goalkeeper Shilton – representing Derby at the time – was England’s number one at Italia 90 as they made it to the semi-finals just a few months shy of his 41st birthday. He remains England’s most-capped player of all time.