Roger Milla remains the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history. The Cameroon striker was 42 years and 39 days old when he scored against Russia at USA 1994, breaking the record he himself had set four years earlier. The 1976 African Footballer of the Year had retired from international football in 1988, but a month before Cameroon's squad for Italy 1990 was named, the country's president was impressed by Milla's performance in a charity game.
President Paul Biya first persuaded Milla to go to the finals, then convinced coach Valery Nepomnyashchy to include him. Milla scored four goals to help Cameroon come close to becoming the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Four years later, he was sent on at half-time in Cameroon's last group game. Just 64 seconds later, he scored his history-enhancing goal past Russia goalkeeper Stanislav Cherchesov.
Milla is followed on the oldest goalscorers list by Portugal's Pepe at 39, Cristiano Ronaldo at 37, Sweden's Gunnar Gren at 37, and Mexico's Cuauhtemoc Blanco at 37.
