The present invention relates to a sealing element for an internal combustion engine, preferably a two-stroke engine, having a crankcase with an upper part and a lower part in which two roller bearings for the crankshaft are disposed between the upper part and the lower part. The roller bearings are encompassed by rings made of a heat resistant, thermoplastic material; each of the rings is provided with a groove running around its outer circumferential surface, and each groove receives a sealing element. The sealing elements are part of a shaped sealing part received between the upper part and the lower part, which shaped sealing part has an essentially circular cross section and is made of an elastomer material, and which, in the region between the two rings extends within another groove which is provided in the upper part and/or lower part.