Of old warhorses, their longevity and last dance

A look at age-verification documents would make one wonder how these warhorses’ batteries still have enough charge for the FIFA World Cup.

It appears as though they have been competing at football’s glitziest spectacle since time immemorial. The ageless fighters, however, are likely to bid adieu to the pinnacle of the global game in the ongoing edition. Here are five such players who are set for their last dance:

Lionel Messi (38 years): The Argentine talisman, who will turn 39 during the World Cup, is no longer shouldering the burden of attaining ultimate success, having achieved crowning glory in Qatar 2022.

There was a shadow of doubt whether he would make it to the record-equalling sixth tournament, but the richly gifted forward has opted to take the toughest football examination once again. Messi is steadily building up to full fitness after being sidelined with a hamstring injury, which he suffered when he was on duty for Inter Miami. His objective? Adding a feather to an already heavily decorated cap with a successful title defence.

Cristiano Ronaldo (41): The Portuguese legend would just not bow out of the international arena without straining every sinew to accomplish the mission. After multiple unsuccessful pursuits that left him heartbroken, Ronaldo, the only man to score in five iterations, will have another bite at the cherry.

The once-in-a-generation attacker has a genuine chance of hoisting the shimmering trophy, for his team has several game-changers who can alter the script in a jiffy.

On an individual note, Ronaldo, cognisant of his well-below-par returns in knockout fixtures, will be determined to exert more influence in such clashes. If he carries Portugal to the promised land, he will almost certainly be ‘sainted’ back home.

Luka Modric (40): The Croatian may be running the last mile in his illustrious career, but the midfield master is still a feared opponent in his ‘area’ of strength.

That he plied his trade in one of Europe’s top-five leagues — for AC Milan in Serie A — last season despite being in the 40s shows his longevity with no compromise in quality.

After stumbling in the final hurdle in 2018 and coming third four years later, Modric will hope to turn those near-misses into a perfect finish. Croatia will have to come out in full force if it is to join the World Cup-winning community.

Manuel Neuer (40): The German custodian’s international return was something that not many anticipated, but head coach Julian Nagelsmann has pinned his hopes on the shotstopper.

Neuer, donning the national colours for the first time since the European Championship in 2024, will be the No. 1 choice between the sticks provided he is in the best shape.

The goalkeeper’s volume of years in the sport and experience of tasting success at this level (in 2014) were too good to ignore for Nagelsmann, who is two years younger to Neuer. “He does not need to settle in at this stage. He can handle pressure situations,” the chief coach said of the veteran.

Guillermo Ochoa (40): A Mexican World Cup squad without Ochoa in the mix will look incomplete, considering that he was a constant presence under the crossbar in the previous three editions.

The goalkeeper, chosen to represent the North American outfit in the tournament proper for the record-levelling sixth time, has revelled in performing at the quadrennial event.

But Ochoa has hardly garnered game time in recent years and may find himself on the bench again. He, however, is prepared to give head coach Javier Aguirre a ‘happy’ selection problem.