<p>Ronaldo at 41, Modric at 40, Dzeko at 40. North America 2026 could rewrite the record books for tournament veterans.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/world-cup">2026 FIFA World Cup</a> won't just be the biggest in history. It could also be the oldest. Three outfield players aged 40 or over look set to take the pitch in North America this June, which is something that has never happened in the tournament's 96-year history.</p><p>Add Guillermo Ochoa potentially becoming the first man to appear at six World Cups, and we're looking at a genuinely historic gathering of greybeards.</p><p>Here's the full list of veterans Australian punters should keep an eye on, how they stack up against the all-time record holders, and where the Socceroos fit into the picture.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (41)</h2><p>Ronaldo rocks up to North America as the oldest player anyone is really talking about.</p><p>Born in February 1985, he'll be 41 years old when Portugal open their campaign on June 17, 2026.</p><p>He's confirmed this will be <strong>his sixth (and final) World Cup</strong>, already a joint record. He's also the only man to score at five different World Cups, and he'll be hunting number six to cement his place among the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/most-goals-football-history">all-time leading goalscorers</a>.</p><p>The bigger question is how he's used. A hamstring injury kept him out of recent Portugal friendlies against Mexico and the United States, and there's legitimate debate inside the camp about whether he starts or comes off the bench.</p><p>Coach Roberto Martinez has publicly backed him, but at 41, even Ronaldo's body has limits.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Luka Modric, Croatia (40)</h2><p>Still dictating play at AC Milan, still captaining Croatia, still making midfield look easy. Modric turned 40 in September and will appear at his fifth World Cup.</p><p>Croatia sealed qualification with a 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands in November, where Modric played 62 minutes at centre-mid.</p><p>He's on track to hit 200 international caps during the tournament itself, which puts him in a club so small it's basically furniture.</p><p>Very few players have stayed elite into their 40s the way Modric has, and he's the most tactically influential 40-year-old at the World Cup.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico (40)</h2><p>Ochoa is chasing history. If Javier Aguirre names him in Mexico's final 26-man squad, he becomes the first male player ever to appear at six World Cups.</p><p>Several contemporaries have reached five. Nobody has cracked six. Ochoa played Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. A home tournament would be the poetic finish.</p><p>He was called up for March friendlies against Portugal and Belgium, which is a strong signal. The complication is that first-choice keeper Luis Malagon ruptured his Achilles last month, clearing a path for Ochoa.</p><p>Getting on the field is another matter though. Ochoa's starting role has been uncertain in recent years, though he started matches at Qatar 2022, including the round-of-16 knockout against the Netherlands.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Edin Dzeko, Bosnia (40)</h2><p>The feel-good story of qualifying. Dzeko, now 40, led Bosnia through the European playoffs with important goals across the campaign, including an 86th-minute equaliser away to Wales.</p><p>Bosnia then beat Italy on penalties in Zenica to book their spot, only the second World Cup in the nation's history. The result also <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/can-italy-qualify-2026-world-cup">ended Italy's hopes of reaching the tournament</a> for a third consecutive cycle.</p><p>Dzeko's shoulder got knocked about in that final and there's a fitness question hanging over him.</p><p>If he recovers and steps onto the pitch in North America, he'll join a list of outfielders aged 40+ at a World Cup that currently has one name on it. Just one.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Lionel Messi, Argentina (38)</h2><p>Messi is the odd one out here. His age is mild by this group's standards, but nobody is sure if he's actually going.</p><p>The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has openly said he might end up watching from home. He turns 39 on 24 June, right in the middle of the group stage.</p><p>Coach Lionel Scaloni has said the decision rests entirely with Messi and that he'll do "everything possible" to get him there.</p><p>If Messi says yes, he equals Ronaldo and Ochoa at six World Cups, and defends the trophy he lifted in Qatar. However, he has not yet publicly confirmed his participation as of mid-April 2026.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>How They Stack Up Against History</h2><p>The all-time oldest World Cup player remains Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who took the pitch at Russia 2018 aged 45 years and 161 days.</p><p>Colombia's Faryd Mondragon held the record before him, playing at Brazil 2014 aged 43. None of the 2026 veterans will threaten those marks, but they'll push the outfield numbers into territory nobody has seen before.</p><p>The 40-plus goalkeepers club is small: Pat Jennings (Northern Ireland, 41, Mexico 1986), Peter Shilton (England, 40, Italia 1990), Dino Zoff (Italy, 40, Spain 1982), Ali Boumnijel (Tunisia, 40, Germany 2006), Mondragon and El-Hadary. That's six men across 96 years of World Cup football. Ochoa would make seven.</p><p>Outfield, it's Milla and nobody else.</p><p>Pepe came close at Qatar 2022 aged 39 years and 283 days, and he's currently the second-oldest outfielder ever to appear. Ronaldo and Modric will both eclipse Pepe in 2026 if they play.</p>