A soccer ball. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – An Israeli goalkeeper has broken the Guinness World Record for oldest soccer player to take part in a professional soccer match.

Isaak Hayik, who will turn 74 this week, managed to make some good saves on Friday for the Ironi Or Yehuda soccer club against Maccabi Ramat Gan, though his team was defeated 5-1.

Born in Iraq, Hayik was awarded at a ceremony attended by representatives of the Guinness World Record organization and expressed his pride for achieving recognition for Israel through his accomplishment.

“This is not only a source of pride for me but also to Israeli sports in general,” he said.

Isaak and his family immigrated to Israel when he was 4, when Iraq expelled Jews in response to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.