Colombia's goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, waves to spectators after the group C World Cup soccer match between Japan and Colombia at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, June 24, 2014. Colombia won the match 4-1. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) (The Associated Press)
CUIABA, Brazil – Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon became the oldest player to compete at a World Cup when the 43-year-old came on as a late substitute in the 4-1 win over Japan on Tuesday.
Mondragon entered as an 85th-minute replacement with his team 3-1 ahead to break the record set by Cameroon striker Roger Milla, who was 42 when he played in the 1994 finals in the United States.
Mondragon is the only remnant from Colombia's last appearance at a World Cup, in 1998 when he was the country's first-choice goalkeeper.
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman says "Faryd has been a very important player for us ... so we gave him the chance to play a couple minutes so he can be recorded as the oldest (player) at a World Cup."
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