Lionel Messi’s contract renewal with Inter Miami will see the Argentine champion play till 2028, when he will likely be 41 years outdated.
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Such longevity has sparked hypothesis concerning the position “La Pulce” (The Flea) will play in the course of the 2026 World Cup. “It could be extraordinary,” stated the participant, “however I’d prefer to be in good condition and play an necessary position to assist my nationwide staff, if I’m there.”
Along with his renewal, Lionel Messi might quickly be a part of an unique membership: that of gamers who’ve performed at a excessive stage previous the age of 40.
Let’s check out who they’re, excluding goalkeepers from our record, as their place is historically longer-lived than outfield gamers.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 40
In fact, the primary identify on this record is Lionel Messi’s nice rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who turned 40 final February and continues to chase data, in pursuit of his 1,000th official profession purpose.
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The contract tying the Portuguese star to Saudi membership Al-Nassr is a two-year deal signed in the summertime, so CR7 is aiming to play no less than till he’s 42. He’s the third participant ever when it comes to appearances, having nearly reached 1,300.
Luka Modrić – 40
The one participant in a position to break the Ballon d’Or duopoly in the course of the period when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated world soccer: Luka Modrić turned 40 in September and doesn’t appear to really feel it, judging by the standard of performances he’s delivering for Milan after becoming a member of Serie A.
Zlatan Ibrahimović – 41
One other nice rival of Lionel Messi in the course of the golden period, Zlatan Ibrahimović continued taking part in till the age of 41, retiring 4 months earlier than turning 42.
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After turning 40, Ibra had simply returned to Milan, and within the Rossoneri shirt he grew to become the fourth Serie A participant to attain previous the age of forty (after Costacurta, Piola, and Vierchowod), in addition to scoring his three hundredth profession purpose and, as a protagonist, successful the Scudetto.
Javier Zanetti – 40
An indestructible participant, made much more so by his everlasting boyish appears, Javier Zanetti performed his final aggressive match in June 2014, three months earlier than turning 41, after being an icon and legend of Inter.
His longevity would have allowed him to develop into the fourth participant ever to achieve 1,100 appearances.
Paolo Maldini – 40
One other everlasting icon, Paolo Maldini ended his profession in 2009, one month earlier than turning 41.
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His retirement was made bittersweet by disagreeable banners devoted to him by the Milan curva, regardless of being the third participant ever for appearances with the identical staff (over 900).
Francesco Totti – 40
Talking of icons, one can not fail to say Francesco Totti, one other participant who, like Maldini, devoted his complete profession to a single membership. His profession resulted in 2017, 4 months earlier than he turned 41, not with out controversy.
The one-year renewal granted to “Il Pupone” by the American administration and disagreements with coach Luciano Spalletti marked the top of the Roma quantity 10’s profession, who reached his a centesimal look in European competitions at 40 years and 23 days outdated.
Pepe – 41
Pepe, the Portuguese defender, ended his profession by saying his retirement in August 2024 and performed till the ripe age of 41, a feat that allowed him to interrupt a number of data, together with that of the oldest outfield participant ever to take the sphere in a Champions League match, having confronted Arsenal on the venerable age of 41 years and 15 days.
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He’s additionally the oldest participant ever to have performed in a European Championship, having appeared for Portugal at Euro 2024.
Ryan Giggs – 41
Ryan Giggs ended his profession in 2014 at 41 years and 6 months. Notably, he’s among the many only a few gamers to have performed his complete profession with a single membership, in his case Manchester United. With 963 matches, he’s the outfield participant with probably the most appearances for a similar staff in historical past.
Roger Milla – 42
Roger Milla is the oldest participant ever to have participated in a World Cup: he had retired from the Cameroon nationwide staff in 1992, however was recalled two years later, on the age of 42, to play within the 1994 USA World Cup.
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His profession was very long-lived, as he performed till he was 46 in Indonesia.
Stanley Matthews – 50
He was one of many best gamers of his period: Stanley Matthews was a legend of English soccer, making his debut for Stoke in 1932 and ending his profession with the identical membership in 1965, on the age of fifty. That very same yr, he additionally made his final look for the England nationwide staff.
The others
They don’t seem to be the one nice champions to have performed previous the age of 40. Listed below are a number of extra names:
Romário retired at 41, solely to return to the sphere at 43 within the Brazilian league with America-RJ. He would return to the pitch once more 15 years later, in 2024, on the age of 58.
Rivaldo continued taking part in, albeit at decrease ranges, till the age of 43, even taking the sphere alongside his son Rivaldinho.
Teddy Sheringham performed till the age of 42.
Kazuyoshi Miura remains to be energetic on the age of 58, and is the oldest participant ever to attain a purpose amongst professionals.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
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