Oldest Nations League players: Lee Casciaro, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, Pepe
Friday, November 22, 2024
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Gibraltar's Lee Casciaro beats the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić to this UEFA Nations League record.
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As Spain edged Croatia in the final of the UEFA Nations League's third edition, 34-year-old Jordi Alba and 37-year-old Luka Modrić donned the armbands for their sides. France, victors in the second edition, were led by 34-year-old Hugo Lloris while a 34-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo captained Portugal to victory in the inaugural competition.
With the value of experience clear, UEFA.com reveals the ten oldest players to feature in the Nations League.
Who are the oldest players in Nations League history?
43 years 14 days: Lee Casciaro (Gibraltar) vs Liechtenstein, 13/10/2024
42 years 250 days: Georgi Petkov (Bulgaria) vs Slovenia, 19/11/2018
42 years 182 days: Ildefons Lima (Andorra) vs Liechtenstein, 10/06/2022
42 years 87 days: Marc Pujol (Andorra) vs Moldova, 16/11/2024
41 years 323 days: Craig Gordon (Scotland) vs Poland, 18/11/2024
41 years 61 days: Roy Chipolina (Gibraltar) vs Lithuania, 21/03/2024
40 years 152 days: Juli Sánchez (Andorra) vs Latvia, 19/11/2018
39 years 284 days: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) vs Poland, 15/11/2024
39 years 106 days: Pepe (Portugal) vs Switzerland, 12/06/2022
39 years 70 days: Luka Modrić (Croatia) vs Portugal, 18/11/2024
As Gibraltar forward Casciaro took the field in the final stages of their goalless draw with Liechtenstein, he extended his record as the Nations League's oldest player. In a list that also includes the illustrious names of Ronaldo, Pepe, and Modrić, it is the now 43-year-old, who plays for Lincoln Red Imps in the Gibraltarian Premier League, who prevails.
Who are the oldest players to play in the Nations League Finals?
37 years 282 days: Luka Modrić* (Croatia) vs Spain, 18/06/2023
37 years 209 days: Jesús Navas* (Spain) vs Croatia, 18/06/2023
37 years 53 days: Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) vs Spain, 06/10/2021
36 years 99 days: Pepe (Portugal) vs Switzerland, 05/06/2019
36 years 45 days: Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) vs Spain, 15/06/2023
35 years 169 days: José Fonte* (Portugal) vs Netherlands, 09/06/2019
35 years 128 days: Francesco Acerbi (Italy) vs Netherlands, 18/06/2023
34 years 288 days: Hugo Lloris* (France) vs Spain, 10/10/2021
34 years 169 days: Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) vs Italy, 10/10/2021
34 years 136 days: Ivan Perišić* (Croatia) vs Spain, 18/06/2023
*Appearance came in a Nations League final
The ultimate prize cruelly evaded him, but Modrić added another individual record to a dazzling international career as Croatia fell to a penalty shoot-out defeat in the 2023 Nations League final. Modrić had scored as Croatia defeated the Netherlands in the semi-finals and then converted his spot kick in the final against Spain, but two penalty saves from Unai Simón swung the shoot-out in Spain's favour. Jesús Navas, who started for the victors, became the second oldest player to feature in the Nations League Finals.