Is this the veterans’ World Cup? Messi and Ronaldo are far from the only stars off to Qatar in their advancing years – these 10 are in their fourth decade, too
Words Si Hawkins
MESSI & RONALDO
01 SON HEUNG-MIN South Korea Age 30
World Cup pedigree Hang on, Son is over 30? Spurs’ smiley assassin still feels more like an eager young whipper-snapper than the captain of his country and veteran of two World Cups. The definite highlight to date: his late breakaway that sank reigning champions Germany in 2018.
A star in Qatar? If this tournament was in the summer, he’d have rocked up as English football’s joint leading scorer, but it’s been a patchier campaign so far. Perhaps Qatar looms heavily: he has World Cup history there, breaking an arm in a 2017 qualifier. Just getting home intact would be a start.
What about 2026? It’s in his Korea plan.
02 LUIS SUAREZ Uruguay Age 35
World Cup pedigree Every tournament needs a pantomime villain, and there are few more panto than El Pistolero. He pissed off Ghana with that save-and-celebration in 2010, bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in Brazil, then turned almost heroic in 2018 by knocking out fellow boo-boys Saudi Arabia and Russia.
A star in Qatar? Darwin Nunez’s emergence means he may not start, which is probably for the best in the final group game – all eyes will be on Luis if Ghana boot them out.
What about 2026? He’s just won the league with boyhood club Nacional, but a mooted switch to MLS sounds like the final curtain.
03 MANUEL NEUER Germany Age 36
World Cup pedigree The uncompromising Nummer Eins conceded twice at the 2010 World Cup, followed by victory in 2014, then a shock group exit four years later – when he got tackled 80 yards from his own net for the South Korea goal that bashed the nail in the coffin. Lord knows how this one goes then.
A star in Qatar? Part of the problem in 2018 was Neuer’s rustiness after a lengthy lay-off, and he’s had a shoulder complaint recently...
What about 2026? Dino Zoff won it at 40, Peter Shilton made the semis – so it could happen. Think of poor Marc-Andre ter Stegen though, waiting in the wings for what seems about 30 years now.
04 KEVIN DE BRUYNE Belgium Age 31
World Cup pedigree The sky-blue Scholes has mastered club football, but for a while he had that can’t-quite-recreate-it-for-his-country tag, which has dogged many modern greats: Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, James Tarkowski. Kev finally seized the day in the 2018 quarter-finals, when his right-foot bullet beat Brazil. Big game, big player.
A star in Qatar? A fully-fit De Bruyne would make every nation’s first XI, you’d think,
