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. 1
   Paolo Maldini

   AC Milan's captain was still marshalling Champions League finals at 38 and retired at 41.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Kazuyoshi Miura

   The Japanese striker who was still playing professionally in his late 50s.
   744pts
3. 3
   Roger Milla

   Danced at Italia '90 aged 38 and scored at a World Cup at 42.
   546pts
4. 4
   Zlatan Ibrahimović

   Scored 26 Serie A goals after turning 39 and won the 2022 title with AC Milan at 40.
   473pts
5. 5
   Gianluigi Buffon

   Kept goal in Serie A past 43 and retired at 45 at boyhood club Parma.
   473pts
6. 6
   Dino Zoff

   Lifted the 1982 World Cup as Italy's 40-year-old captain-goalkeeper.
   473pts
7. 7
   Peter Shilton

   England's record cap holder was still a World Cup semi-finalist at 40.
   387pts
8. 8
   Thiago Silva

   Still commanding back lines at 41 back home at Fluminense after elite spells in Europe.
   387pts
9. 9
   Cristiano Ronaldo

   Still scoring at 40-plus for Al-Nassr and Portugal, chasing 1,000 career goals.
   284pts
10. 10
    Luka Modrić

    Won the 2024 Champions League at 38 and started every Croatia game at the 2026 World Cup at 40.
    284pts
11. 11
    Lionel Messi

    Turned 39 during the 2026 World Cup and finished as its second-top scorer.
    284pts
12. 12
    Javier Zanetti

    Captained Inter to the 2010 treble at 36 and played on to 40.
    284pts
13. 13
    Francesco Totti

    Roma's forever captain who was scoring in Serie A right up to retirement at 40.
    284pts
14. 14
    Ryan Giggs

    Won Premier League titles into his late 30s and played for Manchester United at 40.
    158pts