Craig Gordon could become the second-oldest World Cup player
Quick summary
BBC Sport examines the oldest players ever to appear at the World Cup, with Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon potentially moving into second place if he plays in 2026. The article also notes other veteran stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who could join the age records list.
What happened
The piece looks back at the oldest players in World Cup history and highlights that only a small group have featured at age 40 or above. Essam El Hadary still holds the record at 45 years and 161 days, but Craig Gordon is positioned to become the second-oldest if he appears for Scotland in the tournament. It also mentions other likely veterans such as Ronaldo, Edin Dzeko, Manuel Neuer, Luka Modric, Guillermo Ochoa, Fernando Muslera and Vozinha. The main angle is historical and statistical rather than a direct match update, with the World Cup serving as the context for a potential longevity milestone.
Chance analysis
This matters more as a tournament narrative than a direct betting signal, because it concerns squad age, selection and historical milestones rather than form or injuries. The only footballing implication is that veteran players can still be trusted for experience, but their presence is usually more relevant to squad depth and leadership than to hard market pricing. For prediction systems, this is low-urgency context unless it links to a specific lineup or availability update.
Likely little direct effect on match pricing, aside from minor narrative value around veteran selections.
Treat this as low-impact World Cup context unless a veteran player's inclusion affects a specific lineup or market.