Conventional wisdom is that once a player passes his late 20s it’s a rapid downhill ride. Some players have lasted much longer, of course, and right now we are blessed with a number of impressive veterans. Let’s take a look at five players over the age of 30 who are proving that an oldie can still win games.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The easy way to answer the youth fanatics is to put Cristiano Ronaldo’s name first on this list. He is odds-on favourite to win his fifth Ballon D’Or at the age of 32.
The Portugal captain guided his country to winning the Euros and won both the Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid last season, contributing an astonishing 55 goals in the process.
This season he has 11 goals in 13 club appearances and looks like he’s going to be chasing another golden boot in the Champions League. The ex-Manchester United winger also racked up 15 goals in the World Cup 2018 Qualifiers as he steered Portugal to the top of its group. In simple terms, he’s the best goal scorer in the world.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Back when he was a fresh-faced 35-year-old, Ibrahimovic scored a whopping 17 goals and five assists in his debut Premier League season with Manchester United.
Despite picking up a cruciate ligament knee injury in April he was still awarded a new contract and the 36-year-old is expected back on the field in January.
Before arriving in Manchester the big Swede was key to PSG’s success in Ligue 1, helping the French giants to league straight titles and contributing 113 goals. Although some fans don’t think United can compete with Manchester City for the title, the Premier League should be aware that the return of the 6’ 5” striker could help to decide where the trophy ends up.
Gigi Buffon
Yes, goalkeepers do often last to a decent age but Buffon has retained his place at Italy’s biggest club since 2001 and watched 23 potential replacements come and go.
He will be 40 by the time he retires at the end of this season but he leave the game as the game’s greatest keeper purely because of his sustained consistency.
Just last season this oldie was named the Champions League goalkeeper of the season. The Italian’s longevity is unmatched as he has played more than 1,000 games and his 10 Seria A titles make him the most successful Italian at club level.
He stood by Juventus when it was relegated, showing he is also big on loyalty. The slickest man between the sticks will go down as one of the greatest sportsmen ever.
Antonio Valencia
The 32-year-old ex-Wigan man has played more than 200 games for United since 2009 but has also seen the club lose its greatest manager and go through a tough transition period. A host of players have come and gone while the Ecuador captain has developed from a bit-part player into one of the first names on the team sheet.
Dani Alves
When Alves left Barcelona for Juventus in 2016, just after rejecting City, it seemed that he had done his best work and was now an oldie searching for a pay cheque.
Instead he was a key figure in the Juve side that reached the Champions League final. Some pundits have argued that he changed the Italian club’s style of play and added a more dynamic edge to their game in wide areas and I would have to agree.
The Brazilian has since moved to PSG in France and will be 35 by season’s end. Whenever he retires he will be considered one of the best ball-playing defenders we have ever seen and the epitome of a world-class fullback.
by Nubaid Haroon
YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtMg-fWm7awR41vM1GhVOkA Twitter: twitter.com/rambofyi
The post Football: Five Oldies Who Are Still Firing appeared first on Felix Magazine.
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