(Doha) The club of 37 and over: legends with an extended record or almost unknown deans, certain “veterans” over 37 arrive in Qatar to probably compete in their last World Cup. Overview of the football grandpas of the Mondial-2022.
Pepe (Portugal, 39 years old)
In Portugal, it’s not just the legend Cristiano Ronaldo (37) who is pushing up the average age: the tireless Pepe, former defensive coach of Real Madrid with whom he won three Champions Leagues and now captain of FC Porto, has made its way to Fernando Santos’ list.
The 39-year-old Pepe suffered from a knee injury from late September to early November but recovered in time to go to Qatar.
He is the third most capped player in the history of the Seleçao, with 128 games, one more than legend Figo (far behind CR7’s 191).
Luka Modric (Croatia, 37)
PHOTO ANTONIO BRONIC, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Luka Modric continues to build one of the best midfielders in the world.
He came very close to the coronation in 2018: Real Madrid’s playmaker Luka Modric, Ballon d’Or that year, returns with his captain’s armband of the Croatian selection to try again to make his way to the top. finally.
Sparkling last season despite his age, Modric continues to form one of the best midfielders in the world with his German sidekick Toni Kroos, who for his part decided to retire from international football last summer.
He largely contributed to winning the 14e continental crown for the “White House” last May.
Dani Alvés (Brazil, 39)
PHOTO MASSIMO PINCA, REUTERS
Dani Alves
Does the Brazilian passion have no age? Alongside former Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva (38), eternal full-back Dani Alvés, 39, will also be part of the expedition to Qatar.
After a brief return to FC Barcelona from December 2021 to last July, the most successful footballer in the world (45 trophies) crossed the Atlantic again last summer to land in the Mexican club Pumas UNAM.
His last coronations are not that old: in 2021, Alvés won the Brazilian championship with Sao Paulo, and the Tokyo Olympics with Seleçao. And, in Qatar, Alvés could add a 31e cup, the finest of all, to his immense list of awards.
Steve Mandanda (France, 37)
PHOTO STÉPHANE MAHÉ, ARCHIVES REUTERS
Goaltender Steve Mandanda will be one of the veteran goalkeepers at the Worlds.
With the iconic Mexican Guillermo Ochoa (37), who will participate in his fifth World Cup, and the iconic German Manuel Neuer (36), Rennes goalkeeper Steve Mandanda (37) will be one of the veteran goalkeepers at the World Cup.
The former goalkeeper of Marseille will not steal the show from Hugo Lloris, holder in the tricolor goals and even captain of the Blues since September 2011, but will have an important role to play in the group life of the France team.
Dean: Alfredo Talavera (Mexico, 40)
PHOTO JOAN MONFORT, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mexican goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, 40, will be the oldest player in Qatar.
The dean of all is him: in the shadow of the emblematic Guillermo Ochoa (37), Mexican goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, 40 years old since September 18, will be the oldest player in Qatar. A former teammate of Dani Alvés at Pumas UNAM, he joined Mexican club FC Juarez in July.
In the first match of his third World Cup, on November 22 against Poland, he will be exactly 40 years old, two months and four days old… but will still be far from the record of Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who on June 25, 2018 became the oldest player to play a World Cup match, at 45 years, five months and ten days.
The oldest field player to have played in a World Cup remains the legendary Cameroonian striker Roger Milla, at 42 years, one month and eight days during his last World Cup, in 1994 in the United States.
In Qatar, the oldest outfield player will be Canadian Atiba Hutchinson (39), born February 8, 1983, 18 days before Pepe.