Egypt’s veteran goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary is on the verge of making history.
The shot-stopper has been included in Egypt’s squad to represent the North African country at the FIFA World Cup which is scheduled to kick-off on 14 June.
At 45-years-old, El-Hadary is set to set a new record; that of the oldest player to ever feature in a World Cup tournament.
That record is currently held by former Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón who played for his country in the 2014 World Cup.
El-Hadary brings an enviable wealth of experience to the Egyptian squad, having played for the side more than 150 times.
In his career, the 45-year-old has won eight Egyptian Premier League titles, four Egyptian Cup titles, four CAF Champions League titles, four African Cup of Nations titles, among many more honors.
It is interesting to note that when El-Hadary made his debut for The Pharaohs, star player Mohamed Salah was just four years old.
The goalkeeper will not just be a father figure metaphorically; his age earns him that title almost literally.
Egypt is among five African teams that will feature in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They are joined by Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria and Morocco.
The Pharaohs are pooled alongside host Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group A. They play their first game against the South Americans on 15 June.
