Like a fine wine: Five footballers who got better with age


For most players of the beautiful game, the peak of their abilities is achieved when they reach the age of around 28-30, from when on it is a downward slalom slope to avoid injuries and the body’s physical ability decreases.

Some of them just didn’t get the memo though.

Here’s five footballers who found that age was most definitely just a number.

1.     Zlatan Ibrahimovic


The most famous Swedish player of all time is so adored by fans that he is often known just by his first name. He is now a free agent at the age of 35 after one season at Manchester United. Unlike many big stars who come to England to find the playing style doesn’t suit them, Zlatan adapted his game to score 28 goals in all competitions in 2016/17. His best years began when he passed the 30 mark and joined Paris Saint Germain in 2012, scoring a whopping 156 in 180 games for them in the four years he was at the club. His best could still be yet to come.

2.     Javier Zanetti


One of those players whose stamina seems to be on a constant tap, Javier Zanetti’s career spanned from 1992-2014 – that’s twenty two years. He played over a thousand games in his career for club and country and retired at the age of 40. His best spell came in the latter stages of his career though – even in 2012/13 at the age of 28, he played 48 goals in all competitions, and played more games in the latter ten years of his career than the former. A defensive right back who started his career as a winger, Zanetti has been hailed by many as one of the best right backs of his generation.

3.     Antonio Di Natale


Probably the best example of a late bloomer, Italian striker Di Natale had never had a 20+ goals season until 2009-10, when he hit 29 in 38 games with Udinese, at the age of 32. He continued that streak for the next five seasons, hitting 132 goals in that period. He is the sixth highest-goalscorer in Serie A history, and his longevity may be put down to a restricted international career. He retired in 2016, aged 38.


4. Stanley Matthews


Making the rest look like minnows, English winger Stanley Matthews had a 33-year playing career which lasted until he was 50. Yeah, 50. Though his most prolific goalscoring season came in his early twenties for Stoke, he is most remembered as a Blackpool player, and made 31 league appearances in the 1962-63 season, aged 47, winning the Second Division title that season. He won the FA Cup in 1953 aged 38, and his personal accolade list is endless. He won the Ballon D’Or in 1956 – meaning he was the best player in Europe when he was 41. Forty one.


5.     Gianluigi Buffon


Gianluigi 'Gigi' Buffon may as well just be immortal, as his career is showing no signs of ending, or even slowing down. At 39, he is the fifth most capped international player of all time with 169 appearances for Italy, and played 30 league games for Juventus last season. Regarded by some as one of the best goalkeepers ever, he is still one of the most sought-after goalkeepers in the world and is still the most expensive shot-stopper of all time.

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