By Jim van Wijk, PA Sport
Last updated 6 June 2006

The World Cup has seen plenty of young talents emerge, with Brazil legend Pele having played in his first tournament at the age of 17.

This summer, however, there will be plenty of battle-hardened veterans ready to enjoy another taste of competition at the highest level - for what may be the last time in their glittering career.

Here, PA Sport takes a look at some of the older heads who have taken centre stage down the years.

ROGER MILLA
The Cameroon striker had officially retired from international football, but following a phone call from the African nation's president, he was persuaded to go to the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Milla would emerge as one of the stars of the tournament, as the Indomitable Lions marched through to the quarter-finals before eventually losing to England.

He netted four goals in total, celebrating each with a dance around the corner flag, which has now become part of football folklore.

At the age of 42, Milla returned to the World Cup in 1994. Although Cameroon were unable to repeat their heroics of four years earlier, Milla set the record of the oldest player - and indeed goalscorer - at the finals against Russia on June 28.

DINO ZOFF
Zoff had already won the Serie A title six times before he led his country at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, in what would prove to be his last and defining tournament.

In 1968, he was a member of the Italy side which won the European Championship only to then see Enrico Albertosi favoured for the World Cup in Mexico two years later. By 1974, Zoff was back in the fold, but the Azzurri bowed out tamely in the group stage.

The 1978 event in West Germany proved no happier for the Juventus legend, beaten by a 40-yard screamer from Arie Haan of Holland which denied them a place in the final. 1982, however, was to finally prove Zoff's time.

Led by the goals of Paolo Rossi, Italy beat Argentina, Brazil, Poland and then West Germany in the final - at the age of 41, Zoff became the oldest ever winner of the World Cup.

He would go on to coach both Juventus and Lazio, as well as guiding Italy to the the final of Euro 2000, where the Azzurri were beaten by France in extra-time by a golden goal from David Trezeguet.

LOTHAR MATTHAUS
The legendary German midfielder played in five World Cups and holds the individual record of 25 appearances, the first of which came as a substitute against Chile in 1982.

West Germany, as they were then, lost in the final to Italy, but under the driving force of Matthaus they would emerge as Europe's dominant side over the next 10 years.

By 1984, Matthaus had joined Bayern Munich and helped them win the league twice ahead of the World Cup in Mexico, where the Germans would again reach the final, but by this time they were up against a certain Diego Maradona his majestic prime. Italia '90, however, was Matthaus' own crowning moment.

Now established at Inter Milan, the German midfielder revelled in his adopted 'home' environment, scoring four goals en route to the final in Rome.

Although Argentina - who knocked England out on penalties in the semis - did their best to spoil the final as a spectacle, a spot-kick from Andreas Brehme eventually settled matters.

The World Cup in the United States four years later marked the changing of the guard in European football as the Germans were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Bulgaria and so there was to be no glorious swansong for Matthaus, who had been operating at sweeper.

He was, however, back in France '98, following an injury to Mattias Sammer. After initially only being a squad player, Matthaus would go on to break the all-time appearance record as the Germans reached the last eight again, this time losing to Croatia.

It would be his last World Cup appearance, with Matthaus finally retiring for good at the age of 39 following Euro 2000.

FRANCO BARESI
A product of the Milan youth system, Baresi only ever played for one club and would become renowned as the finest sweeper of his generation.

Glory with the Italian national team was, however, to elude the great defender over three World Cups. When he was 22, Baresi watched from the bench as his countrymen defeated West Germany to win in 1982, having not played a minute of competitive action in Spain.

A public falling out with then coach Enzo Bearzot saw Baresi miss the 1986 World Cup.

Four years later, he was back and desperate for glory on home soil, only for it to end in agony after penalty shoot-out semi-final loss to Argentina.

Baresi was captain when Italy travelled to America in 1994, which at the age of 34, was to be his last tournament. However, he suffered a knee injury against Norway in the second match and, following surgery, Baresi was not fit again until the final against Brazil.

It was to be his 81st and final match for the Azzuri. Baresi produced a magnificent defensive display as the match ended goalless, and would be the first World Cup final to be decided on the lottery of penalties.

The Italian captain took responsibility for a spot-kick himself, only to send it high over the crossbar. Roberto Baggio's infamous subsequent miss, however, was to prove more costly.

CAFU
Now fast approaching his 36th birthday [June 7 1970], Brazil defender Cafu became the first player to appear in three World Cup finals four years ago. He's all set to make it a fourth this month.

Despite his consistent displays at club level, both in Spain and Italy, Cafu was seen very much as a squad player for the national team.

However, his chance came in the final of the 1994 tournament in Los Angeles, when he came off the bench to replace the injured Jorginho and produced a solid display as Brazil eventually went on to win following a penalty shoot-out. After being part of a side to win the World Cup for the first time in almost a quarter of a century, Cafu became a regular for his country, winning the Copa America in 1997 and 1999.

In 1998, however, the world champions were to come up against the new force of European football when France won the competition for the first time with some breathtaking displays in front of their home supporters, the Brazilians brushed aside 3-0 in the final in Paris.

It was not the smoothest of qualifications for Brazil to make the 2002 tournament in the Far East, but they soon made up for lost time.

Following an injury to Emerson, Cafu was named captain and led by example as Brazil recovered from having a man sent off to beat England in the quarter-finals, and then went on to lift the famous trophy again with victory against a dogged German side in Yokohama.

Cafu was named by Pele as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004, and few would be surprised to see him bow out in style this summer.