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Oldest player at World Cup

40-year-old Gianluigi Buffon, whose team did not get a spot in the World Cup final stage and announced retirement from national duty shortly after, may be bitter watching another goalie play who is 5 years older.

Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, the oldest player to play in a World Cup, set the record in a game against Saudi Arabia, though he couldn't stop his opponents from winning 2-1 in a game between two teams that had already been eliminated.

"I am very sorry for the fans, for everyone in Egypt," El-Hadary said. "I want to thank my teammates. It was a great honor for me to play."

El-Hadary overtook Faryd Mondragon as the oldest person to play at a World Cup. The Colombia goalkeeper was 43 when he came on as a late substitute in his team's 4-1 victory over Japan four years ago at the World Cup in Brazil.

"It is true it was a special record today and many, many people in Egypt love him and support him," Egypt coach Hector Cuper said, "and he has played a great game."

The keeper, who has the most national caps of any African player, had never been to a World Cup before he was recalled as a substitute for the national team's goalie to play in qualifications in 2016. He played a vital role against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana to carry Egypt into Russia.

El-Hadary has served as national goalie since the 1998 African Cup, and won the 2006 title as a starter. Egypt was knocked out of the first-ever World Cup on the African continent in 2010 after a 0-1 play-off against Algeria in African qualifications.

The country has been absent from African Cup tournaments up to 2015, before Cuper took over as manager and arranged the veteran to play his current role.