The European Championship aka EURO is the right platform for high soccer gamers to show their mettle. Each participant value their salt needs to signify their nation within the competitors, however solely the best get the call-up.
Issues are even harder for older gamers, who are sometimes compelled to make manner for youthful gamers, as soccer is broadly seen as a younger man’s sport. In the present day, we’ll take a look at just a few exceptions — gamers who’re included within the closing roster regardless of being of their twilight years.
Proceed studying to fulfill the 5 oldest warriors in EURO 2024.
#5 Giorgi Loria – Georgia
Aged 38 years and 142 days, Georgia star Giorgi Loria is the oldest goalkeeper to make the minimize for the 2024 European Championship. The veteran shot-stopper, who spent the 2023-24 season at Dinamo Tbilisi, has gained 77 caps for his nation to this point.
Georgia will play within the EUROs for the primary time this yr and, understandably, each participant included within the roster might be desperate to make an look. Nonetheless, for Loria, it appears a bit tough, as he’s properly behind first-choice goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili within the pecking order. So, except Giorgia e book their passage to the final 16 inside the primary two Group F video games, there’s a huge probability Loria will retire with out enjoying within the prestigious continental competitors.
#4 Jesus Navas – Spain
At 38 years and 209 days, evergreen wide-man Jesus Navas has emerged because the oldest Spanish participant in EURO 2024. Navas, whose contract with Sevilla expires on June 30, final performed within the competitors throughout Spain’s triumphant run in 2012. He performed three matches that yr, scoring as soon as.
After failing to make the minimize in EURO 2016 and 2020, Navas has returned to the roster as an understudy to right-back Dani Carvajal. Nonetheless, except Luis de la Fuente shuffles the pack within the closing group stage sport, Navas is unlikely to step onto the pitch in Germany.
#3 Luka Modric – Croatia
Actual Madrid and Croatia legend Luka Modric, who’s 38 years and 282 days previous on the time of writing, is the oldest midfielder in EURO 2024. The six-time UEFA Champions League winner is enjoying in his fifth European Championship this yr.
Modric, who’s Croatia’s most capped participant in historical past (176 video games), has performed 14 video games in EUROs, scoring thrice and claiming two assists. He minimize a irritating determine in Croatia’s 3-0 defeat to Spain on Saturday (June 15). However we are able to count on the maestro to return to kind for the do-or-die conflict towards Albania on Wednesday (June 19).
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Essentially the most adorned participant enjoying in EURO 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo is 39 years and 133 days younger. The Portugal skipper, who scored a world-best 50 targets for Al-Nassr in all competitions within the 2023-24 season, is ready to turn out to be the first-ever participant to play in six EUROs when he takes to the sphere this week.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is unsurprisingly the main scorer in European Championship historical past. In 25 video games within the competitors to this point, the ex-Actual Madrid and Manchester United man has scored 14 instances and supplied 9 assists, lifting the coveted trophy in 2016. A small part of soccer aficionados imagine Os Navegadores are higher off with out their talisman, however fortunately for Ronaldo, coach Roberto Martinez nonetheless considers him his high man.
#1 Pepe – Portugal
Aged 41 years and 112 days, Portugal center-back Pepe is the oldest participant collaborating in EURO 2024. The ageless surprise stays on the high of his sport and ought to be within the beginning XI when Portugal kick off their EURO 2024 journey with a conflict towards Czechia on Tuesday night time (June 18).
Pepe, who performed 34 video games for FC Porto within the 2023-24 season, is enjoying in his fifth European Championship this yr. He has to this point began every of his 19 video games within the competitors, chipping in with a few targets and serving to Portugal preserve six clear sheets — together with the EURO 2016 closing towards France.
