Al-Nassr forward and Man United legend Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the list of oldest footballers with active careers in 2024.
Football as a sport can be extremely challenging physically. Footballers take a lot of hits throughout their career, so it isn’t usual to see too many footballers playing competitive football, once they hit the age of 35.
That isn’t usually the case with all footballers. We have been treated to some absolute old warriors in this sport. The likes of Pepe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic spring to mind.
However, we are going to be looking at the oldest footballers with active careers in this article. Let’s dive in:
Pepe Reina (42 years, Como)
Pepe Reina is one of the oldest footballers with active careers. He is still active in football despite clocking 42. The Spaniard is known for his legendary performances for top football clubs in Europe. He has he’d spells with AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, including Barcelona.
He is currently playing for newly-promoted Serie A club Como as the No.1 goalkeeper.
Thiago Silva (40 years, Fluminese)
Thiago Silva has continued to play at an elite level at his new club, Fluminense, following his switch to the Brazilian side from Chelsea despite turning 40.
Age hasn’t done much to hinder the ex-Brazil international over the years, and he is still going strong in the Brazilian Serie A with his new team. Although the defender retired from international football in 2023 after winning 113 caps and scoring seven goals, he is still going strong in club football.
Cristiano Ronaldo (39 years, Al Nassr)
Cristiano Ronaldo is still doing what he has done for the greater part of his career – finding the back of the net – even at 39.
The football great has had one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen. He has had trophy-laden spells across Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and currently Saudi side Al Nassr. Still going strong, the 39-year-old is still an ever-present figure with the national team and has found the back of the net 10 times and provided three assists in 11 outings across all competitions so far this season.
Luka Modric (39 years, Real Madrid)
The Croatian is one of the oldest footballers with an active career. He still wows the Bernabeu audiences week in and week out with his magic, even at the age of 39.
Luka Modric decided to renew his contract with the Los Blancos over the summer and not retire like his compatriot Toni Kroos. While he doesn’t feature as much as he would like to, he still puts up high-quality performances whenever he’s called upon. He’s also still present with the national team and part of the squad selected for the 2024 UEFA Nations League in the October international break. He has featured 14 times for club and country this season, scoring once and assisting twice.
Ashley Young (39 years, Everton)
Former Manchester United star, Ashley Young is still going strong with Merseyside outfit Everton in the Premier League.
The 39-year-old has been a key player for Sean Dyche’s side since signing with them two years ago from Aston Villa. He has provided two assists in seven appearances so far this campaign. A former England international, Young called time on his career with the national team back in 2018 after scoring seven times in 39 outings with them.
Manuel Neuer (38 years, Bayern Munich)
Manuel Neuer is the current Bayern Munich number one at the age of 38. This shows his longevity in the sport.
The football great, considered by some as the greatest of all time in his position, is still going strong with his club, being the undisputed starter whenever fit. He, however, retired from the German national team this year, after featuring 124 times with them.
Olivier Giroud (38 years, Los Angeles FC)
The Frenchman has had an illustrious career, one that has seen him being crowned World champion, European club football champion as well as France national team all-time highest goalscorer.
Following his retirement from the national team after the Euro 2024, Giroud has decided to take up a new challenge in America with Los Angeles FC and has scored twice and assisted once in 13 outings with them. He scored 57 goals in 137 outings for Les Blues before retirement and is doing pretty well with Los Angeles FC.
James Milner (38 years, Brighton and Hove Albion)
James Milner is the face of longevity as far as the Premier League is concerned. He made his debut in the league with Leeds as far back as 2002, and fast-forward to 2024, he is still going strong with Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Englishman has been referred to as a great professional. His fitness level, even in his old age, has played a part in this. The 38-year-old leaves everything on the pitch whenever selected, and not many would put it past him to play past 40. He retired from international football back in 2016 after 61 matches and one goal.
Luis Suarez (37 years, Inter Miami)
‘El Pistolero,’ as he is famously called has formed a deadly duo with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
The enigmatic striker is among the oldest footballers with active careers and has been scoring for fun at the American side. He boasts 22 goals and 10 assists in 33 games for the club. The 37-year-old might, however, have started closing the curtain on his illustrious career, following his retirement from the Uruguay national team after scoring 65 times in 136 times with them.
Lionel Messi (37 years, Inter Miami)
Arguably the greatest the game has ever seen, Lionel Messi has solidified himself as one of the best footballers ever to grace the sport.
Boasting a career second to none, the 37-year-old is still firing for club and country. Following legendary and slightly disappointing spells at Barcelona and Paris St-Germain respectively, Messi has rediscovered his prolific form at American side Inter Miami. He has found the back of the net 22 times and assisted a further 12 goals in 26 outings for club and country this season.
