Ronaldo, Modric & the stars who may have played their last World Cup

The World Cup often marks a watershed in players' careers, and a few of the game's biggest names may choose to stand down now Russia 2018 is over

• Gabriel Rossi
  

  Table of Contents

  Toggle

  1Sergio Aguero | Argentina

  The Manchester City star will be 34 when the next World Cup arrives, and has suffered mixed fortunes in international football compared to his brilliant club record. 

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  2Lionel Messi | Argentina

  Messi's fourth World Cup campaign ended once more in disappointment, as his Argentina team were muscled out at the last-16 stage by France in a thrilling 4-3 defeat. The Barca star will be 35 when Qatar comes around and with such upheaval in the Argentina set-up, it is by no means certain that he will commit himself to four more years of gruelling transatlantic travel to represent his nation.

• Getty
  

  3Marcelo | Brazil

  Marcelo saw his long-time Brazil team-mate Dani Alves ruled out of contention prior to Russia 2018 with an injury that means the great right-back's World Cup career came to an end. While the Madrid star is slightly younger than Alves, he will still be 34 in 2022. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  4Luka Modric | Croatia

  Modric was a rock for Croatia all the way through their amazing World Cup adventure. But the playmaker is another for whom Qatar 2022 will see a long way away right now. The Real Madrid man will be 37 by the time the ball gets rolling in four years' time.