# 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?

*By YPB Team · Published July 22, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-14-best-footballers-over-35-in-history*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Paolo Maldini** — score 1000/1000
   AC Milan's captain was still marshalling Champions League finals at 38 and retired at 41.
2. **Kazuyoshi Miura** — score 744/1000
   The Japanese striker who was still playing professionally in his late 50s.
3. **Roger Milla** — score 546/1000
   Danced at Italia '90 aged 38 and scored at a World Cup at 42.
4. **Zlatan Ibrahimović** — score 473/1000
   Scored 26 Serie A goals after turning 39 and won the 2022 title with AC Milan at 40.
5. **Gianluigi Buffon** — score 473/1000
   Kept goal in Serie A past 43 and retired at 45 at boyhood club Parma.
6. **Dino Zoff** — score 473/1000
   Lifted the 1982 World Cup as Italy's 40-year-old captain-goalkeeper.
7. **Peter Shilton** — score 387/1000
   England's record cap holder was still a World Cup semi-finalist at 40.
8. **Thiago Silva** — score 387/1000
   Still commanding back lines at 41 back home at Fluminense after elite spells in Europe.
9. **Cristiano Ronaldo** — score 284/1000
   Still scoring at 40-plus for Al-Nassr and Portugal, chasing 1,000 career goals.
10. **Luka Modrić** — score 284/1000
   Won the 2024 Champions League at 38 and started every Croatia game at the 2026 World Cup at 40.
11. **Lionel Messi** — score 284/1000
   Turned 39 during the 2026 World Cup and finished as its second-top scorer.
12. **Javier Zanetti** — score 284/1000
   Captained Inter to the 2010 treble at 36 and played on to 40.
13. **Francesco Totti** — score 284/1000
   Roma's forever captain who was scoring in Serie A right up to retirement at 40.
14. **Ryan Giggs** — score 158/1000
   Won Premier League titles into his late 30s and played for Manchester United at 40.

Tags: football, players, legends