Former Real Madrid star Pepe is leading the list of the top five oldest players that have scored in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Pepe featured in all Portugal matches in the World Cup, playing as a central defender. He is regarded as one of the best players of his generation. Pepe spent much of his career in Spain, playing for Real Madrid for ten years from 2007 to 2017.
He is currently plying his trade in his home country, playing for FC Porto for the second time in his career. Pepe joined Real Madrid from FC Porto in 2007 and has returned to the club as he nears the twilight of his career.
He scored only one goal for Portugal in the 2022 World Cup. He found the back of the net and scored in Portugal’s 6-1 win over Switzerland in the round of 16. Pepe is 39 years old.
Cristiano Ronaldo 37 years
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the oldest players to score in the 2022 World Cup. He is currently 37 years and scored just one goal for his team in a 3-2 opening win over Ghana.
Ronaldo is Portugal’s all-time highest goal scorer with 118 goals. He also has a record 701 club goals and has been at the summit of top-flight football for 16 years.
Ronaldo is a free agent now. He has no club after he mutually terminated his Manchester United contract following a controversial interview with Piers Morgan.
Olivier Giroud 36 years
Giroud is third on the list of the oldest players to score in the 2022 World Cup. He is currently 36 years of age. Giroud matched Thierry Henry’s goal tally of 51 for France when he bagged a brace in France’s 4-1 opening over Australia. He surpassed the record in the game against Poland, netting the opener. Giroud scored a decisive goal for France in their quarterfinal clash with England. He has four goals in the tournament so far. Giroud currently plays for AC Milan.
Lionel Messi 34 years
Seven times Ballon d’Or winner tipped to win the tournament to cap his heroic football career; Lionel Messi has been crucial for Argentina in the tournament. He scored in their opening 2-1 loss against Saudi Arabia.
Messi also scored in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Mexico, including the quarterfinal win over the Netherlands. He has 4 goals in the tournament.
Lionel Messi is currently 35 years old. He is plying his trade at PSG in France.
Robert Lewandowski 34 years
Robert Lewandowski has failed to replicate his goal-scoring in the Bundesliga and La Liga in the 2022 World Cup. He scored only 2 goals in four 2022 World Cup matches.
He is currently 34 years and plays for Barcelona in Spain.
