Over the years, the FIFA world cup has seen so many veterans who are well advanced in age featuring in the tournament.
Former Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is officially the oldest player to participate in the world cup.
Hadary was 45 years and 161 days old when he played for Egypt in their last group game against Saudi Arabia during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has its own set of veterans and we take a look at five oldest players among the 832 footballers in Qatar. These five players are older than your biggest suspects: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal who is 37 years, and even Brazil’s Thiago Silva who is 38.
-Alfredo Talavera Diaz (Mexico)
The Club Juarez shot stopper will be 40 years and 63 days old when the competition officially starts on November 20.
He was capped 40 times by Mexico at senior level and was in their squad for both the 2014 and 2018 World Cups though he did not get any minutes to feature.
-Atiba Hutchinson (Canada)
Born on February 8, 1983, the experienced midfielder will be 39 years, 9 months and 10 days old when the World Cup begins on November 20.
Hutchinson is the skipper of the Canadian national team and was very instrumental in their qualification from the CONCACAF region.
He made his debut for Canada against United States in a friendly game in January 2003 and has gone on to earn 98 caps scoring 9 goals.
-Eiji Kawashima (Japan)
The Japanese goal keeper who plays for Strasbourg in France will be 39 years and 8 months old when the World Cup starts in Qatar.
He is Japan’s first choice goalkeeper and was superb in the 2018 world cup in Russia when the Blue Samurai reached the round of 16. He made his debut for Japan in 2008 and has gone on to play 95 times.
-Pepe (Portugal)
The aggressive Portuguese defender will be 39 years, 8 months and 29 days when his country takes on Ghana in Group H on November 24.
Pepe who is a Brazilian, naturalized for Portugal in 2007. He featured in the 2010 World Cup for the European country. The former Real Madrid guardsman has been ever present at the back for Portugal, boasting of 129 appearances and scoring 7 goals.
-Dani Alves (Brazil)
Born on May 6, 1983, Alves will be 39 years and 198 days old when the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar
Alves will be going to his third world cup having represented his country for the first time in the 2010 edition in South Africa.
He missed the 2018 edition in Russia due to a knee injury but he is back to the team after his fine output for Mexican outfit FC UNAM.
Alves may not be a starter for Brazil in Qatar but his experience will be needed at some points.
-Remko Pasveer (Netherlands)
The Netherlands goalkeeper will be 39 years and 12 days old when the World Cup begins.
He was part of the Netherlands team which won the 2006 European U21 tournament in Portugal but was never considered to be good enough for the senior side.
It took Passveer 16 whole years to have his first call up to the Dutch senior national team which was on September 22, 2022 against Poland in a UEFA Nations League.
His fine performance for Ajax has been noticed by the technical team of the Dutch and he will be in Qatar as part of the countries three goalkeepers for the World Cup.
