Ronaldo, other ageing stars push limits to make history at World Cup 2026

After playing at Qatar 2022 at age 35, US national team defender Tim Ream thought it was “pretty unlikely” he could play in another World Cup. But he decided he would at least try to stay in the game as long as possible.

“Because for me, it’s about pushing boundaries, pushing myself, pushing the limits of what I can physically and emotionally handle,” he told Al Jazeera.

Last week, Ream was named as the US’s captain for the upcoming football tournament in North America and, at 38, is the oldest ever outfield player in a US World Cup squad.

“To be given the honour and the opportunity to wear the captain’s armband in a home World Cup is incredible,” he said.

Ream, who played for Bolton Wanderers and Fulham in the Premier League and is now at Major League Soccer (MLS) side Charlotte FC, is one of several outfield players in their late 30s and beyond at the 2026 World Cup; including Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, the 40-year-olds Luka Modric and Edin Dzeko, Yuto Nagatomo, 39, and Argentina legend Lionel Messi, who turns 39 later this month.

Evolving sport science plays a significant role in extending career longevity – the days when “recovery” meant having a few beers after the game are long gone, and many players now extoll all kinds of developments from lymphatic draining to cryotherapy.

Huge amounts of data measuring biomarkers from heart rate variability and muscle oxygenation to hormonal fluctuations and inflammation are also now available, including from wearable technology.

But experts argue that sport science is just part of a complex system of interlocking factors needed to extend longevity in football, including culture, relationships, a learning mindset, luck, resources, and the motivation to keep going into a fifth decade.