Top 10 Oldest Football Players Active in 2024

When you think of old football players in this generation, I know Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi come to your mind. What if I told you there are other older football players still going strong? From Kazuyoshi Miura to Pepe Reina, these oldest football players have continued to showcase their skills and knowledge up to date.

In football (soccer), there is no universal retirement age. Most professional football players normally hang their boots between 34 and 36 years of age. While age is a crucial factor in football and other sports, some extraordinary players prove that age is not a limit to success. These old players have remained active in football, playing in professional leagues and for their countries. Below are the top 10 professional footballers who have proven that age is just a number in the field. We have considered players 40 years and above, and their ages are correct as of 25 June 2024.

Kazuyoshi Miura is one of the oldest active players still going strong in professional football. The center-forward Japanese national currently plays as a striker for UD Oliveirense, a team in Portugal. Miura has appeared in major international football tournaments in 1992 and 1996 AFC Asian Cup. Miura has been playing since the 1980s, and he has played for Brazil, Japan, Italy, and Australia. He has represented Japan 89 times with a total of 55 goals. King Kazu has 709 appearances in his career and 193 goals.

Georgi Petkov is a Bulgarian goalkeeper who began his career in the late 1990s. The 48-year-old goalkeeper is yet to hang his boots. He is currently playing for Slavia Sofia. Petkov has played in major European tournaments like UEFA Champions League and Europa League, making over 400 appearances. He has also appeared 19 times for the Bulgarian national team. Other teams he has played for in his senior career include Enosis Paralimni, Levski Sofia, and FC Bankya.

Ahmad Korhani is a Lebanese footballer currently playing for AC Tripoli as a goalkeeper. The 45-year-old has appeared seven times this season. He has managed three clean sheets and only conceded five goals. Apart from AC Tripoli, Ahmad has played in other teams in his senior career like Akhaa Ahli Aley, Ansar, Egtmaaey, and Safa.

Rhys Griffiths is a Welsh footballer who is a player-manager for the Penybont team. Although he has been on the substitute bench for 11 games this season, he is still active and influential in his team. He holds a second position in Welsh Premier League all-time scorers with 343 appearances and 271 goals. Griffiths has played for other teams in his senior career like Aberystwyth Town, Port Talbot Town, Newport County LIanelli, Carmarthen Town, Haverfordwest County, and Cwmbran Town.

Nasiruddin Chowdhury is a Bangladesh footballer who is the oldest in the Bangladesh Premier League. At 44, he is currently playing for Chittagong Abahani, and he has appeared five times this season, scoring a goal. His entire career has been in Bangladesh with a total of 132 appearances and 14 goals. Throughout his senior career, he has played for other teams including Sheikh Russel KC, Dhaka Abahani, Sheikh Jamal DC, Bangladesh Army, and many more.

Ferreira Pinto is a Brazilian football player currently playing for the Italian Serie D club, Ponte San Pietro as a winger. He has also played for other notable teams like Lecce, Varese, Atlanta, Cesena, Perugia, Lanciano, and Uniao Sao Joao. Throughout his career, he has played 686 games. The 44-year-old is still going strong and he has made 23 appearances this season, showcasing his skills despite his age.

Cesar Medina is a Panamanian football player who plays as a forward. He has played most of his career for Alianza FC in the Panamanian Soccer League and made a total of 147 appearances. Cesar has appeared once for the Panama national team. He has made four appearances this season and scored one goal. He is still an active and key player for his club.

Joel Pinto is a Peruvian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He is currently playing for Sport Huancayo in Peruvian Liga 1 at 44. Pinto started his career with Alianza Lima when he was 17. He has played for other teams in his senior career like Inti Gas, Cesar Vallejo, Sport Boys, Deprortivo Wanka, and Coopsol Trujillo. In his goalkeeping career, he has a tally of 412 games with 130 clean sheets.

Roque Santa Cruz is a Paraguayan striker currently playing for the Libertad team. He is one of the players over 40 still active in football. He has played for European teams Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Blackburn Rovers. Roque has also played in Pain, Mexico, and his home Paraguay. He has made 132 appearances for his country and scored 32 times.

Pepe Reina is a Spanish professional footballer. He is the son of Barcelona & Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Miguel Reina. He is currently the number 1 goalkeeper for Villareal. Pepe Reina has played for EF Madrid Oeste and Barcelona in his youth career. He has also played for Barcelona C, Barcelona B, Barcelona, Liverpool, Napoli, AC Milan, Lazio and Aston Villa.

Continuous injuries which cause both physical and mental toll have been the top reasons why many players retire earlier than they expect. Today, players can play longer, thanks to advanced sports surgery, nutrition, and sports psychology among other factors. The UEFA Euro currently taking place across different cities in Germany hosts many players in their late 30s. Some of the oldest players playing at Euro 2024 in Germany include:

• Pepe (Portugal) 41 years 133 days;
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 39 years;
• Luca Modric (Croatia) 38 years;
• Jesus Navas (Spain) 38 years;
• Giorgi Loria (Gorgia) 38 years;
• Manuel Neuer (Germany) 38 years;
• Olivia Giroud (France) 37 years;
• Peter Pekarik (Slovakia) 37 years;
• Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark) 37 years;
• Juraj Kucka (Slovakia) 37 years;

When it comes to the history of the Premier League, there are several old players to ever play in the Premier League from top clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and many more. These players who have set age-related records in the Premier League include:

• Edwin van der Sar – 40 years, 6 months, 23 days;
• Teddy Sheringham – 40 years, 8 months, 28 days;
• Jens Lehmann – 41 years, 5 months;
• Kevin Poole – 41 years, 5 months, 11 days;
• Neville Southall – 41 years, 5 months, 25 days;
• Mark Schwarzer – 42 years, 5 months, 8 day;
• Brad Friedel – 42 years, 5 months, 23 days;
• Steve Ogrizovic – 42 years, 7 months, 24 days;
• Alec Chamberlain – 42 years, 10 months, 23 days;
• John Burridge – 43 years, 5 months, 11 days;