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It’s that time of the season when for football gaming fanatics, nothing else truly matters, and there will be plenty of Blackburn Rovers fans who feel that way.
EA FC26, the latest release of the football simulation video game, enters its early access period later this week and across the EFL, clubs are revealing to their players their ratings for the next year.
However, for some, the new game allows them to recreate teams of the past, using players who have moved on to other teams but who are still actively playing football.
That includes one particular Blackburn Rovers cult hero, who left Ewood Park 14 years ago while the Lancashire outfit were in the Premier League, and supporters may be shocked to see he has not yet retired.
Former Blackburn Rovers ace Roque Santa Cruz is the oldest outfield player in EA FC26
It’s not been the easiest of months for Rovers, but the club does have a history of bringing through quality young players, and David Dunn has called on the Championship side to find the next Adam Wharton.
Nevertheless, it’s the iconic Roque Santa Cruz that we’re focusing on here, and at the age of 44, the striker is still going strong in the Paraguayan first division with Libertad.
At 44, he is the oldest outfield player in FC26, and he has already made 23 league appearances for his club in 2025, scoring three goals.
Blackburn took to social media to express their delight at hearing the record that Santa Cruz holds: “Our former number nine still going strong.”
Roque Santa Cruz’s time at Ewood Park was short but sweet
Santa Cruz joined Blackburn from Bayern Munich in 2007, after the former Paraguay international had played 238 games for the German giants, scoring 51 times and registering 22 assists.
Rovers were preparing for life in the UEFA Cup, known as the Europa League today, and bringing in a player with European experience was going to prove crucial for their chances both on the continent and domestically.
| Season | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007/08 | 43 | 22 | 8 |
| 2008/09 | 27 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010/11 | 10 | – | – |
While Blackburn did not have the easiest of times in Europe, Santa Cruz excelled in the Premier League, finding the back of the net on 19 occasions while also picking up seven assists.
The 44-year-old’s second season was not as successful, and he joined Manchester City a year later before returning to Ewood Park on loan in January 2011, but he never truly recreated the same form as he had done in 2007/08.