Football is a young man’s game – but there are a handful of players bucking the trend by playing into their 40s.
From GOATs to local heroes, these are the veterans still lacing up their boots.
Cristiano Ronaldo (40) – Al-Nassr / Portugal
Ronaldo needs little introduction.
At his peak, he was a goalscoring machine. 450 goals in 438 games for Real Madrid, as well as countless trophies and individual accolades.
Even aged 40, the goals keep coming.
For both Al-Nassr and Portugal, Ronaldo remains a central figure in the team. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, CR7 won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Luka Modrić (40) – AC Milan / Croatia
Despite turning 40, Luka Modrić played the most football of any professional in 2024/25. The Croatian is proving immune to aging.
Since his summer move to AC Milan, Modrić has continued to dictate games with the same control he exerted at Real.
For Croatia, he continues to lead with quiet brilliance, showing that football IQ never fades.
Raúl Albiol (40) – Pisa SC
Across spells in La Liga and Serie A, Raúl Albiol was a dependable centre-back. Never flashy or quick, but calm under pressure with a strong reading of the game. His partnership with Koulibaly at Napoli was one of Serie A’s best for years.
Albiol is seeing out the twilight of his career in Serie B with Pisa, alongside a 37 year old Juan Cuadrado.
Thiago Silva (41) – Fluminense
Thiago Silva’s peak lasted long into his late 30s.
Having only joined Chelsea aged 35, few expected the impact the Brazilian would have; he was still among the elite. Winning the Champions League aged 36 cemented his reputation as one of the modern greats.
Back at Fluminense – where it all started – Silva’s experience is proving priceless.
Few defenders have aged as gracefully.
Dante (41) – Nice
Continuing with the theme of Brazilian centre-backs, Dante remains a constant presence for Ligue 1 Nice.
Dante’s peak came at Bayern Munich, where he played a vital role in the Champions League winning side led by Jupp Heynckes.
Over a decade on, Dante’s 2025/26 season has so far been disrupted by a knee injury, but he remains club captain and an important leader within the dressing room.
Ashley Young (40) – Ipswich Town
One of England’s most adaptable and versatile players for over two decades.
From dazzling winger at Aston Villa to full-back at Manchester United and wing-back at Inter Milan, he reinvented himself repeatedly – regularly collecting major trophies along the way.
Now with Ipswich in the Championship, Young is a trusted regular off the bench.
Guillermo Ochoa (40) – Limassol / Mexico
A player who seemed to come alive at the World Cup.
Ochoa’s iconic performances against Brazil in 2014 and Germany in 2018 made him a global cult hero. Cat-like reflexes, acrobatic saves and pure showmanship made him a fans favourite.
Ochoa is still adding to his 152 caps for Mexico, while plying his club trade in Cyprus for Limassol.
Roque Santa Cruz (44) – Club Libertad Asunción
Santa Cruz is almost certainly a player you thought had retired.
Having made his debut in the late 1990s, Santa Cruz is among a small group of players to have scored in four consecutive decades.
The big Paraguayan isn’t as prolific as he once was, but he is still leading the line for Libertad.
Óscar Cardozo (42) – Club Libertad Asunción
The younger of Libertad’s experienced strike partnership, Cardozo was feared across Europe during his peak at Benfica, regularly scoring in the Champions League, UEFA Cup and Europa League.
During the Primera División Clausura 2025, Cardozo has only made five appearances – scoring once.
Santi Cazorla (40) – Real Oviedo
Quite possibly the most two-footed player of all time.
During his prime with Arsenal and Villarreal, Cazorla was a creative force in the middle of the park.
His career looked to be over following a horrific achilles injury in 2016 that required eight operations. Following a gangrene infection, Cazorla was told he would be lucky to walk again, yet here he is still playing in La Liga for Real Oviedo.
Nené (44) – Juventude
Nené’s best years were spent lighting up Ligue 1 with PSG, where he scored 21 goals in the 2011–12 season – just before the Qatari revolution began.
Now at 44, he’s still pulling the strings for Juventude in Brazil’s Serie A. He’s not as quick as he was, but his brain and technique remain elite.
Sunil Chhetri (41) – Bengaluru / India
Chhetri might not be a household name in Europe, but he is a national icon in India.
The forward is India’s record goal scorer and captain. He’s been the face of Indian football for years – and he’s not done yet.
Still playing and scoring for Bengaluru, Chhetri’s influence off the pitch is as strong as on it.
Mathieu Valbuena (41) – Olympiacos
Valbuena’s peak came at Marseille, where he was one of Ligue 1’s best creators.
His pace, vision and low centre of gravity made him a nightmare for defenders. Later, he became a key figure for the French national team during their rebuild.
Now at 41, he continues to be useful for Olympiacos B, guiding younger players whilst still being a threat from dead balls.
