It feels like only yesterday that we witnessed what many call the greatest football game ever, between France and Argentina, which crowned the Lionel Messi-led side as FIFA World Cup champions for the first time in 36 years. Later this summer, we are bound for the American continent for the 23rd FIFA World Cup, carrying high hopes and ambitions for our favourites, and of course for Real Madrid’s players as well.
It is also this World Cup that could mark the final chance at the biggest international sporting accolade for several Real Madrid veterans. Many of these notable men in white are on the verge of hanging up their boots, and the tournament in June could be their last shot at winning the shiniest medal of all.
The 2026 World Cup also arrives with a new face and a longer road to glory, with the tournament expanding from 32 teams to 48. Real Madrid veterans, who, despite their age, continue to perform at the highest level possible, will see this expansion only as another challenge, one they have mastered throughout their careers and are determined to conquer once again.
Why the 2026 World Cup could be the end of an era
Almost all of the veterans who play or have played for Real Madrid are now well beyond what one would call their “early thirties.” Many are nearing the 35-year mark, while others are well past it and have already crossed 40. This would obviously not sit well with them, considering the more rigorous tournament format they are about to face.
But then again, this is Real Madrid we are talking about. The players who have adorned the famous white shirt have also left their mark on football’s grandest trophy. Time and again, they have reminded the world why playing for Los Blancos gives players an edge that very few are fortunate enough to experience.
For instance, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to feature in his sixth FIFA World Cup, having made his debut in 2006. Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos have both featured in four World Cup editions, and there are countless other Real Madrid legends who have embodied what it truly means to achieve longevity at the highest level.
Luka Modric could play his final World Cup for Croatia
Zlatko Dalić revealed the men who would fly to America wearing red and white, and one of the most beloved Real Madrid veterans, Luka Modrić, made the cut. I mean, if not him, then who? And I say that despite him being 40 years old, with little certainty beforehand that he would continue at the international level.
But to understand the kind of player he has been lately, you really have to ask AC Milan fans, who would probably tell you that the Croatian must be pretending to be that old, because there simply cannot be any other explanation for how good he still is at what he does. In fact, ever since he has left Real Madrid, he has only been better.
Modrić is the biggest name on that Croatian national team sheet and has always been central to their hopes of performing well at the World Cup. And his numbers vouch that:
World Cup Edition | Goals | Assists | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 2 | 1 | Ballon d'Or, Golden Ball & FIFA The Best |
But this could genuinely be the last dance for the Real Madrid and Bernabéu faithful’s favourite. By the time the next World Cup arrives, Modrić will be in his mid-forties, and it is practically impossible to continue performing at the highest level at that age. Cherish the magician one last time, will you?
Cristiano Ronaldo may get one last shot with Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of Real Madrid's best players of all-time. 41 and has not won the FIFA World Cup yet. It is practically the only trophy missing from his elaborate cabinet, the one honour that still keeps the veteran from finally taking a sigh of relief and stepping away from competition.
Having just won the Saudi Pro League right before the start of the World Cup, the Portuguese icon is in as good a spirit and form as he could possibly be. And his team is no less impressive. This is perhaps the greatest Portugal squad in decades and, even if we set the bias aside, they genuinely have a strong chance of going all the way in the competition.
The 41-year-old legend has also struggled at times to retain an undisputed starting position in the national team, but given his current form, which has helped him overcome the injuries and setbacks of recent years, it would be foolish not to play him up front during what could be the defining tournament for this squad.
Even at that age, he remains a real threat to every opponent, believe it or not. The records that he has set speak volumes about what he is capable of achieving:
- All-time leading scorer in men's international football
- Most international caps in men's football
- Most international wins by a player - 133 wins
- Most international hattricks - 10 hattricks tied with Lionel Messi
Antonio Rudiger’s final opportunity with Germany?
Julian Nagelsmann released his 26-man squad for the World Cup last week, and Antonio Rüdiger made the list of eight defenders heading to North America. There was little doubt about his inclusion, as the 33-year-old Real Madrid defender continues to serve as a major leadership figure within the German national team, both on and off the pitch.
But with the recent abysmal performances by Die Nationalelf, a very many radical changes will be needed to reach a respectable position in the World Cup and Rudiger, with his voice alongside Manuel Neuer, can be at the helm of these restructuring affairs.
Though there had been speculation surrounding a possible retirement, Antonio Rudiger extended his contract with Real Madrid until 2027, putting those rumours to rest. The centre-back remains in decent shape, and the course of this World Cup could play a major role in determining what comes next in his career. Still, at 33, it is realistically expected that this will be the last time he wears the German shirt on football’s biggest international stage.
With newer and younger names like Nathaniel Brown and Malick Thiaw, Nagelsmann will be transitioning the veteran Antonio Rudiger into more of a leadership role within the dressing room. He will still play, no doubt, but that will not be his main job, in my opinion.
Thibaut Courtois could make one last run with Belgium
Courtois is one of the very few players I really wish had won the World Cup. And he had all the odds in favour with the golden generation of the Belgian team that unfortunately couldn't withstand the pressure of its own ability. The Real Madrid goalkeeper was a pillar to the exemplary team but it didn't take long for the favourites to collapse within themselves.
The 34-year-old Real Madrid legend has tasted club glory, but international success has remained out of reach. Thibaut Courtois suffered a muscle tear in March this year, which has since fully healed. He has since returned to action for Real Madrid and is in decent form, making him a strong candidate to return to the starting XI for the Belgian national team.
Even during the transition period the Belgian squad is set to undergo, with several veterans expected to see reduced roles, Thibaut Courtois will undoubtedly remain the first-choice man between the sticks and his record at the World Cup supports that view.
World Cup Edition | Matches Played | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|
2022 | 3 | 2 |
2018 | 7 | 3 |
Other Real Madrid veterans who could feature for the last time
David Alaba is another veteran going to the World Cup knowing he probably won’t get another chance. Austria have qualified for the World Cup after 28 years, and it will likely be the first and last World Cup the 33-year-old ever plays in. Poetic, but weirdly sad.
Dani Carvajal was also expected to make Spain’s squad, but to everyone’s shock, he didn’t make the cut. Even more surprisingly, no Real Madrid player has been selected for the Spanish national team for the first time ever.
Which Real Madrid legend could leave the biggest legacy behind?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the one among all these names who arguably has the biggest chance to make this final World Cup his greatest one. He has achieved almost everything there is to achieve in international football on a personal level, and won every major international trophy except the most coveted one of all.
He is a man driven by unmatched hunger, and the reason he has prolonged his career until now is probably this one final chance at winning the World Cup. That dream still seems to drive him more than anything else.
His World Cup résumé is among the strongest of the lot, and with one of the best Portuguese squads heading into the tournament, Ronaldo genuinely has a chance to finally win it. Given that this will almost certainly be his last World Cup, he will push himself to every possible limit to secure the final missing piece in his poetic career.
For every Real Madrid fan who witnessed one of the club’s greatest eras under his leadership, it would feel like the perfect ending to the story that began at the Bernabéu. A farewell with the World Cup in his hands would be a beautiful final chapter, both for Ronaldo and for the fans who grew up watching his greatness.
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