The Last Dance
Some big names could be playing on the world's biggest stage for the last time.
The 2026 World Cup is going to break the record for the amount of players to feature at the tournament who are over 40 years of age.
And while, surely, it will be the last shot at a World Cup, or even a major tournament, for (most) of these players, there are also some slightly younger superstars who could also be bowing out.
Here’s the star names potentially in line for a World Cup last dance.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
At 41, Ronaldo is already set to join an exclusive club.
The Portugal captain is set to join Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, ex-Colombia shot-stopper Faryd Mondragon, former Northern Ireland international Pat Jennings and Cameroon great Roger Milla as the only players aged 41 or over to play at the World Cup finals.
Ronaldo is set to play at a record-breaking sixth World Cup; he is already the only player to have netted at five editions of the tournament.
Roberto Martinez has a fantastic squad at his disposal, and while there has been a suggestion Ronaldo could even play at the 2030 World Cup, for which Portugal are co-hosts, this is surely his best chance at ending his nation’s wait for glory.
LIONEL MESSI
Magic man Messi turns 39 during the tournament, and though he is still capable of the spectacular, this will surely be his swansong for Argentina.
Messi, who, like Ronaldo, will be playing at a sixth World Cup, has played the most matches in the tournament’s history (26) and is only three goals shy of matching Miroslav Klose’s record haul of 16 goals in the finals.
He drove Argentina to glory in Qatar, and while there are probably stronger teams than Lionel Scaloni’s side this time around, Messi is still capable of being the difference-maker.
NEYMAR
Back out from the cold, Neymar has been called up by Carlo Ancelotti despite not featuring for Brazil since 2023.
Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer. He broke Pelé’s record with a wonderfully taken goal in the quarter-finals against Croatia in 2022 — a match Brazil went on to lose on penalties.
His fitness is in question, and it feels as though his inclusion at the expense of Joao Pedro could have just been a case of Ancelotti taking the path of least resistance.
At 34, Neymar has never truly been able to stamp his mark on a World Cup. This is surely his last chance.
JAMES RODRIGUEZ
While Neymar’s 2014 World Cup ended in tears and a nasty injury, it was a tournament that propelled James to superstardom.
