Oldest Nations League players: Lee Casciaro, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, Pepe
Saturday, June 7, 2025
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Gibraltar's Lee Casciaro beats the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić to this UEFA Nations League record.
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As Spain edged Croatia in the final of the UEFA Nations League's third edition, 34-year-old Jordi Alba and 37-year-old Luka Modrić donned the armbands for their sides. France, victors in the second edition, were led by 34-year-old Hugo Lloris while a 34-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo captained Portugal to victory in the inaugural competition, and repeated the feat aged 40 in 2025.
With the value of experience clear, UEFA.com reveals the ten oldest players to feature in the Nations League.
Who are the oldest players in Nations League history?
43 years 14 days: Lee Casciaro (Gibraltar) vs Liechtenstein, 13/10/2024
42 years 250 days: Georgi Petkov (Bulgaria) vs Slovenia, 19/11/2018
42 years 182 days: Ildefons Lima (Andorra) vs Liechtenstein, 10/06/2022
42 years 87 days: Marc Pujol (Andorra) vs Moldova, 16/11/2024
42 years 82 days: Craig Gordon (Scotland) vs Greece, 23/03/2025
41 years 61 days: Roy Chipolina (Gibraltar) vs Lithuania, 21/03/2024
40 years 152 days: Juli Sánchez (Andorra) vs Latvia, 19/11/2018
40 years 123 days: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) vs Spain, 08/06/2025
39 years 195 days: Luka Modrić (Croatia) vs France, 23/03/2025
39 years 106 days: Pepe (Portugal) vs Switzerland, 12/06/2022
As Gibraltar forward Casciaro took the field in the final stages of their goalless draw with Liechtenstein, he extended his record as the Nations League's oldest player. In a list that also includes the illustrious names of Ronaldo, Pepe, and Modrić, it is the now 43-year-old, who plays for Lincoln Red Imps in the Gibraltarian Premier League, who prevails.
Who are the oldest players to play in the Nations League Finals?
40 years 123 days: Cristiano Ronaldo* (Portugal) vs Spain, 08/06/2025
37 years 282 days: Luka Modrić* (Croatia) vs Spain, 18/06/2023
37 years 209 days: Jesús Navas* (Spain) vs Croatia, 18/06/2023
37 years 53 days: Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) vs Spain, 06/10/2021
36 years 99 days: Pepe (Portugal) vs Switzerland, 05/06/2019
36 years 45 days: Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) vs Spain, 15/06/2023
35 years 169 days: José Fonte* (Portugal) vs Netherlands, 09/06/2019
35 years 128 days: Francesco Acerbi (Italy) vs Netherlands, 18/06/2023
34 years 288 days: Hugo Lloris* (France) vs Spain, 10/10/2021
34 years 169 days: Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) vs Italy, 10/10/2021
*Appearance came in a Nations League final
Cristiano Ronaldo is used to setting records and he added another one to his collection at the 2025 Finals, playing and scoring in Portugal's 2-1 semi-final success against hosts Germany, before doing the same in his nation's victory over Spain in the final.