IFFHS NEWS - THE OLDEST INTERNATIONAL PLAYER RANKING
Picture : Giogios Koudas, Captain of Greece National Team (here with Johan Cruijff), was 48 years and 301 days old at his last international match.
All-time oldest international players: Ronnie Brunswijk now on top
We publish the ranking of the oldest footballers in the world of all time to take part in international matches (for a national team or for a club). Since September 22 of this year, it is headed by Ronnie Brunswijk who played for Inter Moengotapoe from Suriname in the match of CONCACAF League at the age of 60 years 198 days (see our yesterday’s publication).
Brunswijk surpassed by far the previous record of George Weah who played in 2018 in a friendly match for Liberia when he was almost 52 year old.
Interestingly, Weah (Picture) set the record in the status of president of his country, and Brunswick in the status of vice-president.
Among 15 players who have played internationally at the age of 45+, only Brunswick has done it at the club level. The other 14 did it at the national team level.
| Player | Pos. | Age | Country | Team | Game Date | Rival (score) | Tourn. | Min. | |
| 1 | Ronnie Brunswijk | F | 60-198 | Suriname | Inter Moengotapoe | 22/09/2021 | Olimpia Tegucigalpa (0:6) | COL | 54 |
| 2 | George Weah | F | 51-345 | Liberia | NT | 11/09/2018 | Nigeria (1:2) | Fr | 78 |
| 3 | Giorgos Koudas | M | 48-301 | Greece | NT | 20/09/1995 | Yugoslavia (0:2) | Fr | 24 |
| 4 | James Debbah | F | 48-271 | Liberia | NT | 11/09/2018 | Nigeria (1:2) | Fr | 57 |
| 5 | Dady Aristide | F | 48-129 | Turks & Caicos | NT | 13/10/2018 | Guyana (0:8) | CNL | 72 |
| 6 | McDonald Taylor Sr. | D | 46-217 | US Virgin Islands | NT | 31/03/2004 | St Kitts & Nevis (0:7) | WCQ | 90 |
| 7 | Kenny Dyer | M | 46-033 | Montserrat | NT | 10/10/2010 | St Kitts & Nevis (0:4) | CCF | 90 |
| 8 | Christopher Bryan | D | 45-293 | Turks & Caicos | NT | 06/09/2006 | Bahamas (2:3) | CCQ | 90 |
| 9 | Desire Butler | G | 45-248 | British Virgin Islands | NT | 09/09/2012 | Montserrat (0:7) | CCQ | 90 |
| 10 | Billy Meredith | F | 45-229 | Wales | NT | 15/03/1920 | England (2:1) | BHC | 90 |
| 11 | Essam El Hadary | G | 45-161 | Egypt | NT | 25/06/2018 | Saudi Arabia (1:2) | WC | 74 |
| 12 | James Slattery | M | 45-150 | Turks & Caicos | NT | 21/02/2004 | Haiti (0:2) | WCQ | 10 |
| 13 | Euclid Bertrand | D | 45-118 | Dominica | NT | 18/11/2019 | St Vincent & Grenadines (1:0) | CNL | 7 |
| 14 | César Cueto | M | 45-079 | Perú | NT | 24/08/1997 | Colombia (2:1) | Fr | ? |
| 15 | Vasilis Hatzipanagis | M | 45-049 | Greece | NT | 14/12/1999 | Ghana (1:1) | Fr | 20 |
Abbreviatures:
NT – National Team
Fr – Friendly
WC – World Cup
WCQ – World Cup Qualification
CNL – Caribbean Nation League
CCQ – Caribbean Cup Qualification
CCF – Caribbean Cup Finals
COL - CONCACAF League
BHC - British Home Championship