5 Football Players who Played Till their 40s
Football has its share of young players with long careers and even a few players that have started late. At a certain point, all players end up choosing to retire for different reasons and usually in their 20s to 30s. Among these players, some went beyond expectations and managed to play until their 40s.
Not all of these players ended up as big stars in their careers but they had their own memorable records and moments on the field. Other than this, there are a few players that have players for more than a few clubs. Here are a few football players who played till their 40s and left a mark:
Claudio Pizarro
Let’s talk about Claudio Pizarro, a Peruvian footballer who only retired in 2021 at the ripe old age of 42! He was still playing and getting minutes on the pitch for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.
While he didn’t manage to score in his final season at the club, Pizarro had proved that age was just a number.
In the 2018/19 season, he found the back of the net five times in only 673 minutes of football – that’s pretty impressive for someone in their 40s! He scored more goals in that season than he did for Chelsea when he was just 29.
Pizarro was definitely a player who knew how to stay relevant and keep his skills sharp even as he got older. It’s no wonder he was able to play for so long!
Francesco Totti
Meet Francesco Totti, the ultimate one-club man and a hero to the people of Rome. He played a staggering 786 games for Roma, scoring an impressive 307 goals along the way.
Totti played for Roma for his entire career, which is pretty rare in modern football. By the time he turned 40 at the start of the 2016/17 season, he had only won one Serie A title with the club.
But despite the lack of silverware, Totti left behind a legacy of brilliant memories. He was a true hero to the fans and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever don the Roma shirt.
Paolo Maldini
Get to know Paolo Maldini, the epitome of consistency and grace on the football field. He was a staple in the Milan team for an impressive 24 years, retiring at the ripe old age of 41. Even though he didn’t always see eye-to-eye with Milan supporters, Maldini always gave his all for the club. He faced off against some of the greatest footballers of all time, from Maradona to Messi and Ronaldo.
For a long time, Maldini held the record for the most appearances in Serie A, until it was surpassed by Buffon. Although he wasn’t as successful with Italy, losing in two major finals, Maldini more than made up for it at the club level by winning everything with the Rossoneri.
Romario
Let’s get to know about Romario, one of the greatest goal-scorers in football history. No matter where he played, he always found the back of the net. In fact, he kept playing until he was in his mid-40s and was still scoring goals like it was nobody’s business.
When Romario turned 40, he was playing for Miami FC in the US second tier. With the help of fellow Brazilian legend Zico, Romario managed to score an incredible 19 goals in 25 games.
But Romario wasn’t done yet. He continued playing for a few more years, even going back to Vasco da Gama for another stint. And you guessed it – he kept on scoring goals.
Romario finally hung up his boots in 2009 at the age of 43, having scored goals on five different continents. That’s some serious scoring prowess!
Ryan Giggs
Finally, let’s talk about Ryan Giggs, a footballer who managed to stay at the top of his game for an impressively long time.
In his early days, Giggs was known for his swashbuckling and exuberant style of play as a winger. But as he entered his 30s, he adapted his game to become a more cerebral player. This change allowed him to continue playing at the highest level for many years.
Giggs also embraced yoga as a way to keep his body in top shape and extend his career. With the guidance of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Giggs was part of all three of Ferguson’s greatest Manchester United teams.
In 2014, Giggs finally retired at the age of 41. He had made over 1,000 competitive appearances for the club and had won an incredible 20 major honors. That’s a career to be proud of!
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