The 14 Best Footballers Over 35 in History

Some faded quietly after 35 — these players won titles, lifted trophies and started World Cup games instead. Who aged best?

1

Paolo Maldini

AC Milan's captain was still marshalling Champions League finals at 38 and retired at 41.

1000pts

2

Kazuyoshi Miura

The Japanese striker who was still playing professionally in his late 50s.

744pts

3

Roger Milla

Danced at Italia '90 aged 38 and scored at a World Cup at 42.

546pts

4

Zlatan Ibrahimović

Scored 26 Serie A goals after turning 39 and won the 2022 title with AC Milan at 40.

473pts

5

Gianluigi Buffon

Kept goal in Serie A past 43 and retired at 45 at boyhood club Parma.

473pts

6

Dino Zoff

Lifted the 1982 World Cup as Italy's 40-year-old captain-goalkeeper.

473pts

7

Peter Shilton

England's record cap holder was still a World Cup semi-finalist at 40.

387pts

8

Thiago Silva

Still commanding back lines at 41 back home at Fluminense after elite spells in Europe.

387pts

9

Cristiano Ronaldo

Still scoring at 40-plus for Al-Nassr and Portugal, chasing 1,000 career goals.

284pts

10

Luka Modrić

Won the 2024 Champions League at 38 and started every Croatia game at the 2026 World Cup at 40.

284pts

11

Lionel Messi

Turned 39 during the 2026 World Cup and finished as its second-top scorer.

284pts

12

Javier Zanetti

Captained Inter to the 2010 treble at 36 and played on to 40.

284pts

13

Francesco Totti

Roma's forever captain who was scoring in Serie A right up to retirement at 40.

284pts

14

Ryan Giggs

Won Premier League titles into his late 30s and played for Manchester United at 40.

158pts