【Gallery】Farewell: the veterans who left their mark in the World Cup for the last time

Reporter |

Edit the | Cai Xingzhuo

Age is an inescapable reality, and football is no exception. As the 2022 World Cup in Qatar draws to a close, the quadrennial event provides a platform for some of the world's biggest stars to represent their country in a one-of-a-kind tournament. However, given the age factor, Qatar could be the last World Cup for many players.

On November 21, Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi said that this World Cup in Qatar would be his last, after four World Cups before that. Ronaldo may also miss the next World Cup, when he will be 41 years old. If this is Cristiano Ronaldo's last World Cup, it will be an unforgettable one, as he became the first player to score in five World Cups. Robert Lewandowski, known as "one of the best strikers of this generation," will turn 38 by 2026. And "one of the best shot finishers of all time" Manuel Neuer, who has previously played in three World Cups, will turn 37 in March next year. For Wales' Gareth Bale, this is his first World Cup, but it could also be the last, and by the start of the 2026 World Cup he will be 37 years old.

Below, let's review the highlights of these players' matches with live images of the World Cup in Qatar.

*Image source: ICphoto; Reference: NBC Sports