Ronaldo, Messi, Zlatan: Best players over 34 years old XI | OneFootball

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a one-year contract extension with AC Milan, which will take his playing career past his 41st birthday.

Doubts over Ibrahimovic’s future emerged this summer with his contract expiring as he recovers from ACL reconstruction surgery, but per Fabrizio Romano, he will return to football with the Serie A winners.

The Swedish forward managed 27 appearances in all competitions last season but still chipped in with eight goals and three assists, as he helped Milan to return to the top of Italian football, while bogged down with a serious knee injury.

He still faces a significant recovery period before getting back onto the pitch for the Rossoneri and is expected to miss the remainder of the current year, but signing the new deal signals his intent to make an impact on Milan’s 2022/23 season.

Ibrahimovic has enjoyed a stellar career which has only become more iconic in the last few years as he continues to display his surreal longevity. And while the injuries are beginning to catch up, he remains effective as ever in front of goal and is still more than capable of finding the back of the net at the top level.

Many thought that career at the top would fizzle out when an ACL injury forced his Manchester United career to a premature end in 2018, but he bounced back with a spell in MLS and has since made a seamless return to Europe and Serie A.

With sports science and the importance of recovery only continuing to develop, top players are beginning to widen their peaks and continue into their later years, extending their careers further.

It takes a special breed of player to be able to maintain their peak levels into their mid-to-late thirties, though, which is highlighted by the small, elite group that have done so.

Ibrahimovic continues to defy the odds and there are few people doubting that he will do the same following his recovery next season, but there are others pulling off equally as superhuman feats.

So, in honour of Zlatan’s incredible extension, we at GIVEMESPORT have put together an XI of the best footballers over 34 who are still playing right now.

GK: Manuel Neuer (age 36)

Bayern Munich and even Germany’s first choice, goalkeepers have always been able to enjoy a slightly longer career, but Neuer still looks as good as he’s ever done.

A serial winner and a supreme shot stopper, Neuer revolutionised the game over the last decade and still continues to adhere to the lofty standards he set, keeping the ball out of the net with impeccable positioning, reflexes and reading of the game.

RB: Dani Alves (age 39)

Arguably the greatest right-back ever with the way he revolutionised the position, Alves has kept himself in surreal shape and can still hang with the big guns across Europe’s top five leagues.

Being football’s most decorated player ever, he has absolutely nothing left to prove, but still turns out for the Brazil national team and has just left Barcelona for a second time, having incredibly returned to the club in 2021.

CB: Thiago Silva (age 37)

Not only is Silva still doing it at 37, he’s doing it in the Premier League; regarded by many as the strongest division in world football.

Many expected Chelsea to enjoy just one year of the Brazilian’s wisdom following his free signing from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. Instead, he’s moving into a third season in London and shows no signs of slowing down, remaining as vital as ever to Thomas Tuchel’s system.

CB: Gerard Pique (age 35)

We could have gone for Sergio Ramos here, who is actually a year older than Pique, but his fitness record and subsequently disappointing debut season at PSG sees him just about lose his place.

Pique, while not without his critics as Barcelona try to claw their way back to the top, remains regularly available and featured 39 times for the team in all competitions last season. At 35. That is extraordinary.

LB: Marcelo (age 34)

The youngest player in the XI, Marcelo has just left Real Madrid at the time of writing following an illustrious 15-year spell in which he established himself as one of the best left-backs ever.

He still has plenty to give, though, despite being surplus to requirements at Los Blancos and could very easily resume his playing career at another top club within Europe. He’s still got it, alright.

RW: Joaquin (age 40)

The Real Betis forward doesn’t feature all that regularly anymore for Real Betis, but does continue to turn out for them and lifted the Copa Del Rey in 2021/22.

Joaquin continues to prove his worth in a league as difficult and technically sound as La Liga, and as a winger, which is testament to just how good he truly is.

CM: Luka Modric (age 36)

Watching Modric and the fellow old guard at Real Madrid carry the club to the Champions League crown in 2021/22 was absolutely magical. The Croatian was able to run rings around any midfielder he was pitted against, despite his advancing age.

As his age has advanced, Modric has shown his class by seamlessly dropping deeper, but remaining just as effective as ever. He’ll continue to be vital to Real in 2022/23.

CM: Fernandinho (age 37)

It was only at the end of 2021/22 that Fernandinho decided to leave Manchester City and the Premier League. And while he certainly no longer had a full 50 or 60 game season in him, Fernandinho still could’ve shown his class in a reduced schedule.

Developing into perhaps the best defensive midfielder in the world at his peak, City have struggled to replace the Brazilian who has now signed for Athletico Paranaense, with Rodri just about coming into his own after a few years of learning the trade from the veteran.

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LW: Cristiano Ronaldo (age 37)

Yes, he is more of a striker these days, but being sensible went out of the window when we decided to put together an XI like this. Ronaldo is arguably the game’s greatest ever player, continually fighting for those bragging rights with Messi, and continues to prove that his age is but a number.

The man is a machine and a rampant goal getter. In his return season at United, he managed 18 Premier League goals and 24 in all competitions. Ronaldo truly is one of a kind. Nobody could replicate such levels at his age.

CF: Lionel Messi (age 35)

While his maiden season at PSG has proved that even he is human, there is no denying Messi‘s spellbinding footballing abilities, which appear timeless as ever.

The Argentine is a pure technician, a complete magician and possibly the greatest ever. Starting on the right of our 4-4-2 formation, you could play this guy anywhere and he’d still give anyone a torrid time, no matter his age. Immortal.

ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (age 40)

Ibrahimovic leads the line, because who else? The perfect reward for signing a deal that will take him past his 41st birthday.

He’s scored 35 goals since returning to Milan in 2020, which is astonishing for his age. Ibrahimovic continues to defy the odds and has put together a legacy which will be remembered long after he hangs up the boots – if he ever hangs up the boots, that is.

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