Often hailed as one of the most prestigious and prominent football tournaments in the world, the FIFA World Cup is undoubtedly followed by millions of hardcore football aficionados from all over the world. The glorious history of the FIFA World Cup, which spans over decades, has witnessed numerous legendary captains who have fought against the odds and have successfully led their respective teams towards a glorious streak of victories. Interestingly, a few of these legendary and trailblazing captains have defied the odds of their age and have successfully etched their names in the glorious history of the FIFA World Cup as the oldest captains in the history of the tournament.
In this article we will take a look at the top four oldest football players who captained their teams in the FIFA World Cup.
FIFA World Cup : Top 4 Oldest Captains Who Led Their Teams
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Essam El Hadary – 45 Years and 161 Days
The legendary Egyptian former professional football player and current goalkeeping coach is at the first spot in our list of the top four oldest captains who led their teams from the front at the World Cup. Often hailed as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all-time, Essam El Hadary played a total of four World Cup editions in the years 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2018. Essam El Hadary was selected as the captain of the Egypt national football team in the 2018 World Cup at the age of 45 years and 161, making him the oldest skipper to ever lead a national football team in the decades-long history of the World Cup.
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Faryd Mondragón – 43 Years and 3 Days
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At the second spot in our list of the top four oldest football players who captained their teams in the FIFA World Cup, we have the trailblazing Colombian retired professional football player Faryd Mondragón who played as a goalkeeper throughout his glorious international football career that lasted from 1993 to 2014. Widely regarded as one of the most successful goalkeepers in the history of the game, Faryd Mondragón played a total of three World Cup editions throughout his career in the years 1994, 1998 and 2014.
Faryd Mondragón was appointed as the captain of the Colombian national football team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the age of 43 years and three days establishing him as the second-oldest skipper in the history of the tournament.
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Roger Milla – 42 Years and 39 Days
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four oldest captains who led their teams from the front at the FIFA World Cup, we have the legendary Cameroonian former professional football player Roger Milla, who is often hailed as one of the greatest forwards of all-time.
The Cameroonian football stalwart, Roger Milla represented Cameroon in a total of four World Cup editions in the years 1974, 1982, 1990 and 1994. Interestingly, Roger Milla was selected as the skipper of the Cameroonian national football team in the 1994 World Cup at the age of 42 years and 39 days, which makes him the third-oldest football player to be appointed as the captain of a national football team in the FIFA World Cup.
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Peter Shilton – 40 years and 210 Days
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four oldest football players who captained their teams in the FIFA World Cup, we have legendary English former professional football player Peter Shilton, who played as a goalkeeper throughout his glorious international football career which spanned from 1965 to 1990. The iconic English former goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, played a total of three World Cup editions in the years 1982, 1986 and 1990.
Additionally, although Peter Shilton did not officially play during the 1970 World Cup edition, he was a part of the squad as a backup. Also, Peter Shilton was appointed as the skipper of the England national football team at the age of 40 years and 210 days, establishing himself as the fourth-oldest skipper to ever lead a national football team in the history of the World Cup.
