As the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to make history, one trend has captured worldwide attention: the tournament features more players over the age of 40 than every previous FIFA World Cup combined.
In a recent interview with NPR, Dr. Riley J. Williams III, Chief of the Sports Medicine Institute at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and FIFA Venue Medical Officer for the New York/New Jersey host venue, shared his perspective on why elite athletes are extending their careers and what recreational athletes can learn from them.
Speaking with NPR host Ayesha Rascoe, Dr. Williams explained that advances in sports science, including wearable technology, performance monitoring, nutrition, sleep tracking, and individualized training loads, have helped today’s athletes compete at the highest level longer than ever before.
He also noted that longevity in sports is about more than physical ability. Legendary players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to excel because of their experience, tactical awareness, and ability to read the game, skills that remain valuable throughout an athlete’s career.
For everyday athletes, Dr. Williams emphasized that staying active later in life begins with building healthy habits early. He recommends combining strength training, cardiovascular exercise, and interval training to maintain fitness while making thoughtful adjustments, such as choosing lower-impact surfaces or modifying training routines, to reduce stress on the body.
“The sooner you incorporate regular fitness training into your life, the more likely you’re going to be able to maintain that,” Dr. Williams said during the interview. “You got to put money in the bank.”
As both a nationally recognized sports medicine surgeon and FIFA Venue Medical Officer for the 2026 World Cup, Dr. Williams continues to help athletes of every age stay active, recover from injury, and perform at their highest level.
