Ronaldo, other ageing stars push limits to make history at World Cup 2026

Tim Ream, 38, was named captain of the United States for the 2026 World Cup, becoming the oldest outfield player in US squad history. He joins other veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo (41), Luka Modric, Edin Dzeko, Yuto Nagatomo, and Lionel Messi (39). Advances in sport science, including wearable tech and biomarker analysis, are helping extend careers.