Roger Milla's World Cup goal-scoring record remains out of Cristiano Ronaldo's reach

Cameroonian footballer Roger Milla remains the oldest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, having scored against Russia in 1994 at the age of 42 years and 39 days. Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be 41 years old during the 2026 World Cup, cannot surpass this specific record even if he scores during the tournament. If Portugal reaches the final on July 17, 2026, Ronaldo would be 41 years and 164 days old. While Ronaldo could overtake Pepe to move into second place on the list of oldest scorers, Milla's mark set in the United States remains secure. Reports suggest that an unnamed 43-year-old goalkeeper could theoretically challenge the record in 2026, though the feasibility of this is debated. Milla's historical achievement was established after he reversed his retirement decision to join the 1990 Cameroon squad. His legendary status was further solidified with his performance in the 1994 tournament.