The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will kick off in just nine days, is already drawing global attention for various reasons — one of them being the oldest and youngest players who will feature in the tournament.
When discussing the oldest and youngest participants at the 2026 World Cup, two names instantly come to mind for football fans worldwide.
The first is Cristiano Ronaldo from the Portugal national team. The second is Lamine Yamal, who, despite being sidelined by injury, has still been included by Luis de la Fuente in Spain’s squad for this global football spectacle held every four years.
However, are Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal truly the oldest and youngest players at the 2026 World Cup? Citing a report from BBC, the fact is that neither of them holds those titles this year.
When it comes to young talents, Lamine Yamal certainly draws the most attention.
Born in Spain on 13 July 2007, the 18-year-old wonderkid will not be the youngest player to take part in this edition of the tournament.
The youngest player set to appear at the 2026 World Cup is Gilberto Mora.
Gilberto, an attacking midfielder from Mexico, has officially been called up by head coach Javier Aguirre.
Born in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, on 14 October 2008, the Club Tijuana player is still only 17 years old.
When Mexico face South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Friday, 12 June, Gilberto will be 17 years and 240 days old.
Gilberto made his senior debut for Mexico on 29 June 2025, and the young prodigy has since earned seven caps with El Tricolor.
Cristiano Ronaldo is poised to make history when he takes the field at the 2026 World Cup.
The Portuguese forward will be 41 years old during the tournament and will become the first player ever to appear in six different World Cup editions.
This record could potentially be matched by Lionel Messi, who may also represent Argentina in the event hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
However, Ronaldo’s age does not make him the oldest player to feature in the 2026 World Cup.
That distinction currently belongs to Scotland’s veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
At 43 years old, Gordon remains an integral figure in Scotland’s squad.
He continues to prove that age is no barrier to performing at the highest level of international football.
In a friendly against Curacao on 30 May, Gordon started between the posts and helped Scotland claim a convincing 4-1 victory, despite conceding one goal.
Behind Gordon, Ronaldo is ranked as the second-oldest player expected to appear at the 2026 World Cup.
The Portugal captain remains a central figure in the team’s attack and is projected to maintain his place in Roberto Martinez’s starting lineup.
Alongside Gordon and Ronaldo, several other veteran stars are also expected to feature prominently for their respective nations.
Croatia’s midfielder Luka Modric and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s striker Edin Dzeko, both now 40 years old, continue to play crucial roles in their national teams.
Meanwhile, the record for the oldest player ever to appear in a World Cup finals match still belongs to former Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who made history at the 2018 World Cup in Russia at the age of 45 — a benchmark yet to be surpassed.
LavAni volleyball coach Erwin Rusni is also caught up in the excitement of the 2026 World Cup.
Despite his busy schedule coaching the volleyball team owned by Indonesia’s 6th President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Erwin Rusni remains eager to support his favourite national team when the World Cup kicks off on 12 June.
The 51-year-old coach is a passionate supporter of the German national team.
Nevertheless, his favourite football player is none other than global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al Nassr.
“I’ve always supported the German national team,” Erwin Rusni said in a phone interview with Tribunnews on Thursday night, 28 May (WIB).
“My favourite player, of course, is Cristiano Ronaldo,” he added when asked about his pick for the 2026 World Cup.
In his predictions, Rusni believes Portugal and Germany could face off in the final of the 2026 World Cup. If that scenario materialises, the former national volleyball setter says he will still root for Die Mannschaft to lift the trophy, repeating their 2014 triumph.
“Germany and Portugal (in the final), but I’ll still support Germany to be the champion,” he said with a laugh.
(Tribunnews.com/Giri)
