Oldest World Cup Player

Now Arnautovic Has Broken Konsel’s Record, Too

He has already surpassed Andi Herzog and Toni Polster (from left)—now Marko Arnautovic (far right) is on the verge of snatching a record away from Michael Konsel as well.(Bild: GEPA)

Andi Herzog and Toni Polster had already been surpassed—now Marko Arnautovic has also broken a record held by Michael Konsel. Thanks to his substitution at halftime in the World Cup match against Jordan.

“He doesn’t look quite happy,” Andi Herzog, an ORF analyst, had remarked before the game as Arnautovic stepped onto the field at San Francisco Area Bay Stadium. Shortly afterward, Herzog’s intuition proved correct: Arnautovic was initially only a substitute against Jordan. Sasa Kalajdzic started up front, with Marko on the bench. But at halftime, the switch was made: Kalajdzic out, Arnautovic in. And with that, Marko Arnautovic broke a World Cup record previously held by Michael Konsel.

(Bild: GEPA)

Following Herzog and Polster
“The records are tumbling,” Konsel smiles. And with that, he sums it up perfectly. Marko Arnautovic has already taken supposed best marks away from—and surpassed—two all-time greats of Austrian soccer. First up was a certain Andreas Herzog. For over 20 years, “Herzerl” had held the record for most appearances for the Austrian national team—until September 2022, when Marko Arnautovic played his 104th international match and surpassed his former coach on the U21 national team.

Marko Arnautovic (right) replaced Andi Herzog as the national team’s all-time appearance leader.(Bild: ÖFB/Kelemen)

Then it was Toni Polster’s turn. “Mr. Brace” watched as Arnautovic found the back of the net four times against the “pizza makers” from San Marino. In the 10-0 World Cup qualifying victory, those were Marko’s 42nd, 43rd, 44th, and 45th goals. Since then, he has been the record-holding goal scorer.

Toni Polster, pictured here during a visit to the krone.tv studio on the occasion of his 60th birthday, had to relinquish his goal-scoring record to Marko Arnautovic.(Bild: Mario Urbantschitsch)

“Older” than Konsel
And now the next big name has been caught up in the record-breaking streak. Yes, even Michael Konsel had to relinquish a record on Wednesday at 7:10 a.m. The new record-holder: Marko Arnautovic. If Arnautovic plays in Austria’s first match at the 2026 World Cup against Jordan on Wednesday, he’ll be the oldest Austrian player ever to appear in a World Cup match at 37 years and 59 days. He’ll thus surpass the aforementioned Michael Konsel, who was 36 years and 109 days old when he played his last World Cup match against Italy in 1998.

“I had no idea I held that record,” Konsel said, sounding surprised when contacted by sportkrone.at: “I was definitely proud of it back then.” His memories of his last World Cup match against Italy? “Really bitter. And I was really angry back then, especially since I was playing against some of my club teammates.”

At least one goal
So, bad memories of an event that nevertheless secured Konsel a—admittedly, very unofficial—title. Until now, that is. If Arnautovic plays, he’ll be the oldest Austrian World Cup participant. “I’m glad I’m getting a worthy successor,” says Konsel. And—with a smile—he adds a little challenge to his remark: “Marko should at least score one goal and shoot us into the knockout stage, if he’s going to take the record away from me.”

Konsel also recently spoke about his World Cup memories and his predictions during a visit to the krone.tv studio. You can watch the full interview with Michael Fally here:

Vukovic is still two and a half years away
Incidentally, Arnautovic will most likely no longer become the oldest ÖFB national team player in (current) history—especially since he had already announced his intention to retire from the national team after the World Cup. If he were to claim the title of “oldest” after all, he would have to play for the Red-White-Red once more in early 2029. Only then would he be older than a certain Zeljko Vukovic was on November 14, 2001, during Austria’s 0–5 loss in the World Cup qualifying playoff in Turkey: 39 years, nine months, and five days. No Austrian national team player has ever been older.

Zeljko Vukovic (right) is Austria’s oldest national team player to date.(Bild: GEPA)

Although Karl Sesta came quite close to that mark at 39 years, five months, and two days. That match took place on August 20, 1945. At that time, Austria lost a friendly match in Hungary 5–2. The Hungarian star striker Ferenc Puskas scored the 1–0 goal in the twelfth minute. The libero for the Austrians was Karl Sesta.

Ivo in third place
In third place in the ranking of the oldest Austrian national team players is Ivica Vastic, a representative of the country’s relatively recent history. Ivo was 38 years, eight months, and 14 days old when he played his last game for Austria on June 12, 2008, against Poland at the European Championship on home soil—and scored the 1–1 equalizer on a penalty kick.

June 12, 2008: Ivica Vastic celebrates his penalty kick goal against Poland at the European Championship—at 38 years and eight months old.(Bild: GEPA)

At the other end of the spectrum—at the top of the list of Austria’s youngest national team players—is a certain Ernst Walter Joachim. He was 16 years, 10 months, and one day old when he took the field for the Red-White-Red on November 4, 1917, in Austria’s 1–2 loss to Hungary in a friendly match. The second-youngest national team player in Austrian history to date is David Alaba, at 17 years, three months, and 20 days. He made his debut on October 14, 2009, in Austria’s 1–3 loss to France.