The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun, and excitement is building as FIFA reveals key squad statistics ahead of the tournament. The upcoming edition is already making headlines for its extraordinary mix of players, ranging from record-breaking veterans to emerging teenage talents.
Official FIFA squad data highlights the youngest, oldest, tallest and shortest players set to participate in the tournament, reflecting the diversity of this historic World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo Among the Oldest Players
Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo will be 41 years and 126 days old when the tournament kicks off, making him one of the oldest players in World Cup history. If he takes part, he will become the fourth-oldest player ever to appear in the competition, behind Roger Milla (42), Faryd Mondrag&oacute;n (43) and Essam El-Hadary (45).
Gilberto Mora: The Youngest Star
At just 17 years old, Mexican midfielder Gilberto Mora is the youngest player named in the tournament squads. Remarkably, his teammate Guillermo Ochoa had already appeared at a World Cup before Mora was born.
If Mora features in Mexico's opening match against South Africa, he would become one of the youngest players ever to appear in the competition and the youngest from the CONCACAF region, surpassing Manuel Rosas, who was 18 at the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Only a handful of players, including Pel&eacute;, Samuel Eto'o and Norman Whiteside, have appeared at a younger age.
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The Tallest Player in the Tournament
Austria goalkeeper Florian Wiegele, standing at 2.05 metres, is among the tallest players ever selected for a World Cup squad. The previous record was held by Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert, who stood at 2.03 metres during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Other towering players include England defender Dan Burn, Colombia goalkeeper &Aacute;lvaro Montero and Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Stjepan Radeljić, all standing at approximately 2.01 metres.
The Shortest Player
Panama midfielder C&eacute;sar Yanis, at 1.60 metres, is the shortest player at the tournament. He is followed by Cura&ccedil;ao forward Jeremy Antonisse, who stands at 1.64 metres.
The height difference between Yanis and Burn is 41 centimetres, making it one of the most notable physical contrasts in the competition. The largest recorded height difference between opponents in World Cup history remains the 39-centimetre gap between Nikola Žigić and Bakary Kon&eacute; at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
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Record-Breaking Legends
The 2026 World Cup is also set to mark historic milestones for several football legends. Lionel Messi, Guillermo Ochoa and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been named in squads for a record sixth World Cup, surpassing previous record holders including Lothar Matth&auml;us, Gianluigi Buffon and Rafael M&aacute;rquez.
Meanwhile, Luka Modrić, Yuto Nagatomo and Manuel Neuer are expected to feature in their fifth World Cup tournaments.
Messi and Ronaldo are set to become the first male players in history to appear on the field at six FIFA World Cups, while Ochoa's record includes tournaments in which he was part of the squad but did not feature in a match.
A World Cup Like No Other
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the largest edition in the tournament's history, featuring 48 teams competing for football's most prestigious trophy. The tournament will kick off on 11 June 2026 and run until 19 July 2026, promising a unique blend of youth, experience and record-breaking moments.
Photo Credit: Cristiano Ronaldo&rsquo;s official page
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