Israel becomes the oldest player in the world

OR YEHUDA, Israel (Reuters) – 73-year-old Israeli Isaak Hayik, 73, has broken stunning white hair to set a new world record on Friday. This is the oldest person to have played a professional football game.

Hayik, who is celebrating his 74th birthday next week, broke the record after playing as goalkeeper in an afternoon game with Israeli football club Ironi Or Yehuda.

The guardian of Iraqi origin was officially recognized at a ceremony attended by representatives of the Guinness World Record organization.

"I'm ready for another game," said Hayik, who made good saves in the team's 5-1 defeat against Maccabi Ramat Gan.

"This is not only a source of pride for me, but also for Israeli sport in general," added Hayik, who moved to Israel at the age of four.

The previous record was held by Uruguay's Robert Carmona who, in 2015, played a professional match with the Uruguayan Pan de Azucar at the age of 53, said an official referee of Guinness World Records.

Hayik's family was one of tens of thousands of Iraqi Jews who fled to Israel in the mid-twentieth century, following the country's creation in 1948.

His children expressed their pride for their father's achievements. One of his sons said that he and his father were playing together.

"I was tired before him," said Moshe Hayik, 36. "He is incredible."

(Report of Leon Malherbe to Or Yehuda, writing of Rami Ayyub in Jerusalem, Toby Davis edition)