As the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup enters its second week of group stage play, the tournament has already delivered a compelling showcase of football talent across every age bracket. From veteran legends playing in their final major international tournament to teenage prodigies making their first World Cup appearances, the contrast between experience and youthful potential has emerged as one of the competition’s most gripping early storylines.
On the veteran end of the spectrum, no name carries more global recognition than 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made history in Portugal’s opening 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, earning a place in the FIFA record books as the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match. Despite the milestone, Ronaldo left the pitch disappointed, having failed to find the back of the net in what is widely expected to be his final World Cup campaign.
Another 40-something European legend, Croatia’s 40-year-old Luka Modrić, also had a tough opening outing against England. The 2018 Ballon d’Or, who led Croatia to a surprise runner-up finish in the 2018 World Cup, gave away a first-half foul that set up Harry Kane’s opening penalty goal. Modrić was substituted off before the 60-minute mark as Croatia fell to a 4-2 defeat, a rocky start to what the Croatian captain has signaled will be his last international tournament.
While Ronaldo and Modrić are household names, it is 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha who has emerged as an unexpected early breakout star among the tournament’s veteran cohort. The little-known shot-stopper turned in a man-of-the-match performance to hold Spain to a surprising 0-0 draw in the Blue Sharks’ opening match, defying pre-tournament predictions that Cape Verde would be easily beaten by one of the tournament’s top contenders. Ahead of Cape Verde’s second group stage match against Uruguay in Miami on Sunday, Vozinha’s mother shared that she is hoping to secure a ticket to be in the stands to watch her son’s historic run. Vozinha is one of several 40-year-old goalkeepers competing in this year’s tournament, alongside more high-profile names like Germany’s Manuel Neuer.
Argentina’s 38-year-old Lionel Messi, who will turn 39 just days after the tournament’s opening round, offered the most dazzling performance from the tournament’s old guard. Messi put on a masterclass in Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, scoring a hat-trick to lead the defending champions to a winning start in their title defense campaign.
On the opposite end of the age spectrum, the tournament’s youngest players have already proven they belong on the world’s biggest football stage. Seventeen-year-old Mexican midfielder Gilberto Mora, the youngest player included on any of the 48 national team rosters, received a roaring ovation from home fans when he came on as a second-half substitute in Mexico’s 2-0 opening win over South Africa. The Liga MX Tijuana prospect is already being scouted by multiple top European clubs, and he will get another chance to impress when Mexico faces South Korea in Guadalajara on Thursday.
Eighteen-year-old Senegalese forward Ibrahim Mbaye made an immediate impact in his World Cup debut against reigning champions France. Born and raised in France, the young striker came off the bench in the 75th minute of Senegal’s 3-1 loss to Kylian Mbappé’s side, and scored a stoppage-time consolation goal to mark his first World Cup goal in just 15 minutes of game time. Senegal will return to action against Norway on Monday.
Morocco’s 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi also turned heads in his opening outing, turning in a standout performance in the midfield during Morocco’s 1-1 draw with Brazil. Bouaddi previously represented France at the youth international level, but switched his national team allegiance to Morocco in time to make the World Cup squad, and showed the talent that has made him one of Europe’s most promising young midfield prospects.
Another 18-year-old forward, Egypt’s Hamza Abdelkarim, came off the bench in Egypt’s 1-1 draw with Belgium, replacing star forward Mohamed Salah in the 76th minute to earn his first World Cup minutes. Spain’s Lamine Yamal, the highest profile of the tournament’s young prospects, is 18 years old and set to turn 19 next month. The Barcelona winger, who only recently returned from a hamstring injury, came off the bench in Spain’s 0-0 draw with Cape Verde to make his World Cup debut.