Diabetes Consultant: Players with Diabetes and Fortysomething Stars Most Prominent Evidence of Medical Progress in 2026 World Cup

2026-07-04T17:23:35.942Z

Diabetes consultant Dr. Abdulrahman Bukhari explained that the 2026 World Cup provides practical evidence of the great progress in modern medicine and sports medicine, through the participation of players with type 1 diabetes at the highest levels of competition, and the continued performance of stars over 35 and 40 years old such as Messi, Ronaldo, and Modric, delivering outstanding physical and technical performance.

Dr. Abdulrahman Ahmed Bukhari, a consultant specializing in diabetes, affirmed that the 2026 World Cup offers tangible evidence of the significant progress made in modern medicine and sports medicine, noting that the most prominent evidence is the participation of players with type 1 diabetes at the highest levels of competition, alongside the continued contribution of several football stars despite being over 35, and some even reaching 40 years and beyond.

Players with Diabetes at the Highest Levels of Competition

Bukhari noted that one of the most prominent examples is Swedish national team midfielder Jesper Karlström, who has type 1 diabetes and is participating in the tournament, delivering high competitive levels, stressing that this scene was considered nearly impossible decades ago.

He pointed out that type 1 diabetes in the past was like a slow death sentence before the discovery of insulin, but successive medical developments, modern drugs, and continuous glucose monitoring technologies have enabled patients to live normally and reach the highest levels of athletic performance.

Bukhari said: 'What has been achieved today is the fruit, first of God's grace, and then of the great progress in diabetes treatment and modern management techniques, which have given patients opportunities that were not available before.'

Sports Medicine Advances Extend the Careers of Stars

Bukhari pointed out that among the biggest signs of sports medicine progress is the notable presence of several players over 35, some reaching 40, who are still competing in the 2026 World Cup and delivering outstanding technical and physical levels.

The list includes prominent names led by Croatian Luka Modrić (40), Argentine Lionel Messi (39), and Croatian Ivan Perišić (37), who still plays as full-back and winger, positions that are among the most physically demanding. Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (41) is also still present in the competition, although Bukhari noted that his current technical level does not match the performance of the other mentioned players.

Fruit of Science and Professional Discipline

Bukhari explained that the continuation of these players at this level is due to the huge leaps in sports medicine, rehabilitation sciences, training load management, and sports nutrition, in addition to the professional commitment and exceptional discipline of these players.

He pointed out that some may cite players from previous generations who continued into advanced ages, but most of them occupied less physically demanding positions such as goalkeeper or center-back, or participated without notable technical impact. In contrast, the current World Cup sees older players delivering influential performances in positions requiring high physical effort, reflecting the extent of progress in sports medicine sciences and modern healthcare.