Messi, Ronaldo, Son Heung-min: The veterans playing their last World Cup

South Korea national team captain Son Heung-min. [Yonhap]

As the 2026 North America World Cup kicks off Thursday, veteran stars including South Korea's Son Heung-min, Lionel Messi of Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal are widely expected to be playing in their final World Cup.

Football media outlet Goal.com ran a feature Saturday titled "Last Dance," spotlighting the veteran players for whom this tournament is expected to be their World Cup farewell.

The outlet named Son, Messi and Ronaldo alongside Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico, Manuel Neuer of Germany, Luka Modric of Croatia, Edin Dzeko of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mohamed Salah of Egypt, Sadio Mane of Senegal, Riyad Mahrez of Egypt, Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium, Virgil van Dijk of the Netherlands, James Rodriguez of Colombia, Neymar of Brazil and Harry Kane of England.

On Son, Goal.com said: "Turning 34 next month, Son still has more time ahead of him than some of the other veterans on this list, but the weight of captaincy and the expectations of a nation passionate about their football team's success is no small burden to carry."

The outlet added that Son, a Tottenham legend who has already left Europe to join Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, "will feel like he has given everything he can for the South Korean national team by the time this tournament is over."

Son began his international career at the 2009 U-17 World Cup and has since appeared at four consecutive World Cups — Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018, Qatar in 2022 and now the 2026 North America tournament.

Messi, widely regarded as the greatest player in football history, is approaching his 39th birthday and will be making his sixth World Cup appearance.

Goal.com noted that Messi led Argentina to victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final, finally claiming the trophy he had long sought. Questions remain over whether the Argentine magician can handle the expected heat and the expanded tournament format in North America, the outlet said.

Ronaldo, often called Messi's greatest rival, is 41 and would become the oldest World Cup winner in history if Portugal lifts the trophy. Like Messi, he is also making his sixth World Cup appearance.

Unlike Messi, Ronaldo has never won a World Cup and has yet to score in the knockout rounds. Goal.com said his World Cup record falls short of Messi's.

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