At 45 years old, Egypt’s Essam El-Hadary became the oldest player in FIFA World Cup history.

Essam El-Hadary officially broke the record on June 25, 2018, during a Group A match against Saudi Arabia in Volgograd, Russia. He surpassed the previous record held by Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón, who was 43 years and 3 days old during the 2014 tournament. El-Hadary's appearance was historic because he was older than managers Aliou Cissé, Mladen Krstajić, and Roberto Martínez, who were all leading teams at the same event.The Egyptian goalkeeper earned his first international cap in 1996, a full year before his teammate Ramadan Sobhi was even born. To maintain his peak physical condition into his mid-40s, El-Hadary followed a legendary fitness regimen that included daily ice baths and a specialized high-protein diet. His nickname, 'The High Dam,' refers to the Aswan High Dam, symbolizing his role as an impenetrable wall for the Egyptian national team.During his record-breaking match, El-Hadary proved his inclusion was based on merit by saving a first-half penalty from Fahad Al-Muwallad. This feat made him the first African goalkeeper to save a penalty in World Cup history. Over his 22-year international career, he won four Africa Cup of Nations titles and earned 159 caps, cementing his status as one of the greatest African players of all time.