At 45, El Hadary offers a World Cup tale of tenacity
MOSCOW — Egypt’s 45-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary says he feels like he’s 20 again.
“I have dealt with three generations of players, each one of them was different,” El Hadary said in a television interview ahead of the World Cup. “But this generation is just great. People go on about me being 45, but I feel I am like my teammates — like I am 20.”
El Hadary isn’t assured of getting any game time for Egypt in the World Cup in Russia, but will create history if he does.
Whether he’s selected to start ahead of Sherif Ekramy or Mohamed Elshenawy or goes on as a substitute, El Hadary would become the oldest person to play in a World Cup. Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who was 43 when he played at the last World Cup in Brazil, holds the record.