LONGEVITY

On the 28th June 1994, the USA hosted the World Cup Finals; the 12th time the tournament had been held. On this day Russia beat Cameroon 6-1 and Russian, Oleg Salenko (below) became the first player to score....... 

5 goals in a World Cup Finals' match and Roger Milla, at 42 years old, became the oldest World Cup goalscorer, when he hit the back of the net for Cameroon. At 38 years and 19 days, Milla was also the oldest debut goalscorer in the Finals.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrtWQSqD3A0

In 1988, aged 36, Milla celebrated his retirement from international football, with a jubilee in Cameroon, BUT two years later in 1990, he received a phone call from the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, who pleaded with him to come out of international retirement and rejoin the national team. Persuaded, Milla went to Italy with the Indomitable Lions, for the 1990 World Cup, where he would cause a sensation. Milla then played in the USA Finals, at the age of 42, being the oldest player ever to appear and score in a World Cup Finals (at the time). Cameroon were knocked out in the group stages; but Milla broke the "age" record he had set in 1990. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJ0Zujnax0

His final international appearance came in a friendly against South Africa in December 1994. 

In the 2014 World Cup qualifier, Colombia's Faryd Mondragon, in a group stage match versus Japan, was 43 years and 3 days old, setting a new record. Mondragon's record in turn was beaten by Essam El Hadary in 2018.

Largest age difference on a champion team was 21 years and 297 days, 1982 in the Italian side, with Dino Zoff: 40 years and 133 days and youngster Giuseppe Bergomi, a mere18 years and 201 days.

Oldest player to ever be named to a FIFA World Cup squad: 45 years, 150 days, Essam El-Hadary (Egypt), 2018

Largest age difference on the same team: 24 years and 42 days, 1994, Cameroon (Rigobert Song: 17 years and 358 days; Roger Milla: 42 years and 35 days) 

Longest period between World Cup finals appearances as a player: 15 years and 363 days, Faryd Mondragon (Colombia, 1998–2014) 

Longest span of World Cup finals appearances as a player: 16 years by Antonio Carbajal (Mexico, 1950–1966); Elias Figueroa (Chile, 1966–1982); Hugo Sanchez (Mexico, 1978–1994); Giuseppe Bergomi (Italy, 1982–1998); Lothar Matthäus (Germany, 1982–1998); Rigobert Song (Cameroon, 1994–2010); Faryd Mondragón (Colombia, 1998–2014); Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, 1998–2014); Rafael Márquez (Mexico, 2002–2018)

Longest period between World Cup finals appearances, overall: 44 years, Tim (Brazil, 1938, as a player and then for Peru, 1982, as coach)

Oldest captain: 45 years, 161 days, Essam El-Hadary (Egypt), vs Saudi Arabia, 25 June 2018

Oldest player to debut in a World Cup finals tournament: 45 years, 161 days, Essam El-Hadary (Egypt-GK), vs Saudi Arabia, 25 June 2018. (below)