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Who is the oldest player to score a World Cup goal? A top 10 list
Lenah Ann
April 2, 2024 at 2:51 PM
The FIFA World Cup is arguably the most popular and competitive football event. The tournament, held every four years, features top national teams battling to take home the world's most lucrative trophy. With the intense atmosphere and rivalry, the young and old players have stepped up and scored for their countries. So, who is the oldest player to score a World Cup goal?
Source: Getty Images
Table of Сontents:
Some of the oldest players to score in the World Cup are known for their talents and immense contributions to the sport. They have left a mark in football by defying the odds and showcasing their exceptional skills on the global stage.
Who is the oldest player to score a World Cup goal?
Cameroonian legend Roger Milla is the oldest footballer to score a goal in the FIFA World Cup. The Olympics website reports Milla was 42 years and 39 days old when he last scored in the tournament. Top footballers like Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo have come close to beating Milla's record.
Top 10 oldest players to score a World Cup goal
After an in-depth analysis from various online sources such as the Olympics and The Analyst, Sports Brief compiled a list of the oldest players to score a goal in the World Cup since its inception.
Player | Country | Age Scored in a World Cup |
Tom Finney | England | 36 years, 64 days |
Georges Bregy | Switzerland | 36 years, 152 days |
Martin Palermo | Argentina | 36 years, 227 days |
Obdulio Varela | Uruguay | 36 years, 279 days |
Felipe Baloy | Panama | 37 years, 120 days |
Cuauhtemoc Blanco | Mexico | 37 years, 151 days |
Gunnar Gren | Sweden | 37 years, 236 days |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 37 years, 295 days |
Pepe | Portugal | 39 years, 283 days |
Roger Milla | Cameroon | 42 years, 39 days |
10. Tom Finney
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Sir Thomas Finney CBE
- Nationality: English
- Position: Winger/centre forward
- Age scored: 36 years, 64 days
- Year: 1958
- Opponent: Soviet Union (Russia)
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As reported by the FA, the legendary forward ranks among the most complete British footballers of all time. Finney made history by scoring in the Sweden 1958 World Cup at 36 years and 64 days against the Soviet Union (Russia). He bagged England's equaliser from a penalty kick six minutes to stoppage time in the opening group game.
9. Georges Bregy
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Georges Bregy
- Nationality: Swiss
- Position: Striker/midfielder
- Age scored: 36 years, 152 days
- Year: 1994
- Opponent: The United States of America
Georges Bregy is one of the oldest players to score a goal in a World Cup. He made history in the 1994 USA edition during their game against the hosts. Bregy's free-kick goal for Switzerland helped his team to a 1-1 draw with the United States in their group fixture.
8. Martin Palermo
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Martín Palermo
- Nationality: Argentine
- Position: Striker
- Age scored: 36 years, 227 days
- Year: 2010
- Opponent: Greece
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The Argentine bench celebrated as Martin Palermo became one of the oldest World Cup scorers. Palermo bagged the historic goal against Greece in their group game at the 2010 edition in South Africa. He scored the second as Argentina, coached by Diego Maradona, won 2-0.
7. Obdulio Varela
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Obdulio Jacinto Muiños Varela
- Nationality: Uruguayan
- Position: Defensive midfield/centre-back
- Age scored: 36 years, 279 days
- Year: 1954
- Opponent: England
The World Cup-winning captain led his nation to their first title in the inaugural edition in 1950 by defeating Brazil in the final. His goal in the 1954 World Cup quarter-finals against England made him one of the oldest players to score a World Cup goal. The South Americans lost 4-2 to England.
6. Felipe Baloy
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Felipe Abdiel Baloy Ramírez
- Nationality: Panamian
- Position: Defender
- Age scored: 37 years, 120 days
- Year: 2018
- Opponent: England
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Baloy scored Panama's first-ever World Cup goal in a 1-6 defeat to England on 28 June 2018, which made him one of the oldest players to get into the score sheet. He also became the oldest debutant to score in the event. The Panama legend retired from international football after the Russia 2018 tournament.
5. Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo
- Nationality: Mexican
- Position: Forward
- Age scored: 37 years, 151 days
- Year: 2010
- Opponent: France
The legendary Mexican playmaker scored his third and final FIFA World Cup goal against France at the 2010 edition in South Africa at 37 years and 151 days old. Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored a 79th-minute penalty, earning his nation a 2-0 win over France and eliminating them from the group stage.
4. Gunnar Gren
Source: UGC
- Full name: Johan Gunnar Gren
- Nationality: Swedish
- Position: Forward
- Age scored: 37 years, 236 days
- Year: 1958
- Opponent: West Germany
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Gren is one of the oldest World Cup scorers, following his heroic performance in the 1958 edition in Sweden. He scored his first and only World Cup goal in the semi-final against West Germany. Sweden won 3-1 but lost the final to Pele's Brazil by 5-2.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Position: Forward
- Age scored: 37 years, 295 days
- Year: 2022
- Opponent: Ghana
Ronaldo converted a penalty kick in their 3-2 win over Ghana in Qatar 2022 to become the second oldest footballer to score at the event before his teammate Pepe surpassed him. The Portuguese striker got his goal in the 65th minute but failed to convert in the knockout stage.
2. Pepe
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Position: Defender
- Age scored: 39 years, 283 days
- Year: 2022
- Opponent: Switzerland
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Pepe became the second-oldest person to score a goal in a World Cup match after netting against Switzerland in the round of 16 in Qatar 2022. His goal helped Portugal demolish the Swiss 6-1 to advance to the quarter-final, where they lost 1-0 to Morocco.
1. Roger Milla
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Albert Roger Miller
- Nationality: Cameroonian
- Position: Striker
- Age scored: 42 years, 39 days
- Year: 1994
- Opponent: Russia
Roger Milla, often considered among the best African players of all time by FIFA, had a memorable World Cup in 1994 in the USA, cementing his place among the best. He scored against Russia after returning from retirement but lost 6-1 to the European side. Milla remains the oldest person to score in the World Cup.
Frequently asked questions
Many players have showcased their talents throughout the World Cup and defied the odds with their remarkable performances. Here are the frequently asked questions about the oldest soccer players who scored in the tournament.
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Who is the oldest player to score a hat trick in the World Cup?
As of 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo is the oldest player to score a hat trick in the World Cup. He achieved the record in a 3-3 draw against Spain in 2018 Russia at 33 years and 130 days old.
The Portuguese broke Rob Rensenbrink's record, which lasted for 30 years. Rensenbrink bagged a hat-trick for the Netherlands against Iran at the 1978 World Cup aged 30 years and 335 days old.
How old was Pelé when he won his first World Cup?
The renowned soccer legend was 17 when he won his first World Cup title. He went down in history as the youngest player to achieve the mantle.
Who is the only player to have won three World Cups?
Pele is the only player to win three World Cup titles (1958, 1962 and 1970). He is considered as one of the greatest footballers ever.
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Final word
Some of the oldest players to score a World Cup goal are among the greatest in the soccer industry. They have shown the world what they can achieve despite their age. Their incredible achievements prove that talent is eternal and that their memory will always live in the hearts of the fans.
READ ALSO: 2 hat tricks in one game: A list of football matches where 2 players scored a hat trick
Sports Brief did a list of football games where two players scored two hat tricks. Scoring a hat trick is an incredible feat that most top strikers have achieved. Some games have also experienced many goals, where two players bag a hat trick. Follow the above link to learn more about the games with two hat tricks.
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