Dani Alves, Modric, Pepe and Talavera lead the veterans’ club in Qatar

Make way for the club of 37: legends with an overflowing list of honors or almost unknown deans, some veterans over 37 head to Qatar (November 20 – December 18) to play what will undoubtedly be their last World.

Dani Alves (Brazil, 39 years old)

Is there no age for Brazilian energy? Along with the defender Chelsea Thiago Silva (38 years old), the eternal winger Dani Alves (39) will be part of the Brazilian expedition in Qatar.

After a brief return to FC Barcelona In December 2021 until July, the footballer with the most titles in the world (45) has once again crossed the Atlantic to land in the Pumas Mexican UNAM.

His last laurels are not dry: in 2021 Alves won the Brazilian championship with Sao Paulo and the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics with the “Seleçao”. And in Qatar he could add a new title, the most important of all, to his immense trophy case.

Pepe (Portugal, 39)

In Portugal, not only the star Cristiano Ronaldo (37 years old) increases the average age: the indefatigable Pepe, former defender of the Real Madrid with whom he won three Champions Leagues and now captain of Porto, he achieved a place on Fernando Santos’ list.

At 39, Pepe suffered a knee injury between late September and early November, but recovered in time for Qatar.

He is the third player with the most caps in the history of the “Seleçao”, with 128 matches, one more than the legend Figo but far from the 191 of “CR7”.

Luka Modric (Croatia, 37 years old)

He stayed close to the gimp in 2018: the Real Madrid midfielder Luke ModricBallon d’Or that year, returns with his captain’s armband for the Croatian team to try a new surprise.

Brilliant last year despite his advanced age (37), Modric continues to train with Toni Kroos one of the best midfielders in the world.

His contribution was key for Real Madrid to add their 14th “Champions”.

Steve Mandanda (France, 37 years old)

Next to the iconic Mexican Guillermo Ochoa (37 years old), who will play his fifth World Cup, and the charismatic German Manuel Neuer (36), Rennes goalkeeper Steve Mandanda (37) will be one of the veteran goalkeepers present at the World Cup.

The ex of Marseille will not take the position from Hugo Llorisstarter in the tricolor goal and captain of the “Bleus” since September 2011, but will be on the bench and will play an important role in the group life of the French team.

The dean: Alfredo Talavera (40 years old)

He is the oldest of all: in the shadow of Ochoa, the Mexican goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, 40 years old as of September 18, will be the oldest player in Qatar. Alves’ former teammate at Pumas UNAM, he joined FC Juárez in July.

In the first match of his third World Cup, on November 22 against Poland, he will be exactly 40 years, 2 months and 4 days old… And despite this he will still be far from the record of the Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who became the June 25, 2018 in the oldest footballer to play a World Cup match, with 45 years, 5 months and 10 days.

The oldest outfield player to play in a World Cup match is still the iconic Cameroonian striker roger milla42 years, 1 month and 8 days old in his last World Cup, in 1994 in the United States.

In Qatar, the oldest outfield player will be Canadian Atiba Hutchinson, 39, born on February 8, 1983, 18 days before Pepe.