Ronaldo and Messi Chase Roger Milla's World Cup Goalscoring Record

New York. Cristiano Ronaldo may have scored in a record sixth World Cup, but there is one page of history that he and Lionel Messi, who celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday, have yet to turn.

Ronaldo became the second oldest goalscorer in the history of the competition at 41 years and 138 days old, scoring against Uzbekistan in Portugal's second group stage match.

But the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player is still behind Cameroonian legend Roger Milla on the list of oldest goalscorers.

Milla, who first appeared in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, gained worldwide fame by scoring four goals in 'Italia 90' in Italy at the age of 38. His team, the 'Indomitable Lions', became the first African team to reach the quarter-finals. His way of celebrating goals by dancing near the corner flag became his identity at the time.

Four years later, at 'USA 94', Milla once again made the list of goalscorers by scoring from eight yards against Russia. That dance near the corner flag was seen again, but Cameroon lost that match 6-1 and was eliminated from the group stage.

However, Ronaldo must surely feel proud to have successfully pushed Messi from third to fourth place. Argentina's forward Messi scored at the age of 38 years and 363 days in a win against Austria.
If the 40-year-old Bosnian-Herzegovinian striker Edin Dzeko or Croatian midfielder Luka Modric score, they will also surpass Messi.

Japan's center-back Yuto Nagamoto is also nine months older than Argentine legend Messi, but he has not yet had the chance to take the field.

Or could some veteran goalkeeper become an unexpected hero?

Six goalkeepers, including Germany's Manuel Neuer, Cape Verde's Vozinha, and Uruguay's Fernando Muslera, are older than Messi. But no goalkeeper has scored in any of the 22 World Cup editions from 1930 to the present.

Austria's 37-year-old Marko Arnautovic entered the list of the top 10 oldest goalscorers in the competition by scoring from a penalty in the dying moments of the win against Jordan.

But with Portugal and Argentina both hosting matches in their home countries in the 2030 World Cup, Milla's record is likely to stand for some time unless Ronaldo or Messi consider playing.

There is no denying the possibility of them playing, is there?

Top 10 Oldest World Cup Goalscorers
1. Roger Milla - Cameroon vs Russia (June 28, 1994) - 42 years, 39 days
2. Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal vs Uzbekistan (June 23, 2026) - 41 years, 138 days
3. Pepe - Portugal vs Switzerland (December 6, 2022) - 39 years, 283 days
4. Lionel Messi - Argentina vs Austria (June 22, 2026) - 38 years, 363 days
5. Gunnar Gren - Sweden vs Germany (June 24, 1958) - 37 years, 236 days
6. Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Mexico vs France (June 17, 2010) - 37 years, 151 days
7. Felipe Baloy - Panama vs England (June 24, 2018) - 37 years, 120 days
8. Marko Arnautovic - Austria vs Jordan (June 17, 2026) - 37 years, 58 days
9. Obdulio Varela - Uruguay vs England (June 26, 1954) - 36 years, 279 days
10. Martín Palermo - Argentina vs Greece (June 22, 2010) - 36 years, 227 days