10 Oldest Footballers Called Up For World Cup 2018
3. Sergei Ignashevich (38) - Russia
At 38-years-old, Sergei Ignashevich will be the oldest defender at the 2018 World Cup and wasn't actually expecting to attend the event, having previously announced his retirement from the international team. However, an injury to Ruslan Kambolov earned the experienced defender an unexpected call-up.
Having spent all of his domestic career in his native Russia, plying his trade for the likes of Lokomotiv Moscow and CSKA Moscow, Ignashevich will feel right at home when the team get their tournament underway in Moscow on 14 June against Saudi Arabia.
With 120 international appearances since 1999, Ignashevich is Russia's most capped player of all time and one of the nation's most reliable centre backs. He'll actually turn 39 on 14 July, which is one day before the final. Few fans are expecting the host nation to go all the way, but reaching a World Cup final would be a very special way for Ignashevich to celebrate his birthday and bow out.