Ronaldo not among top 10 oldest footballers in the world

The verdict among Manchester United fans is that Cristiano Ronaldo is too old at 37 years but here are ten players older than and some of them are playing at the top level. 

Pepe

Porto’s iconic central defender Pepe is celebrating his 39th birthday on Saturday.

While the likes of Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt and Sevilla’s Jules Kounde are leading a new brand of central defenders, Pepe has been taking ankles and accumulating red cards before they even knew what ankles or footballs were.

The Portuguese ace made his senior professional debut for Portuguese side Maritimo in 2002, when he was only 19-years-old.

However, Pepe is defying his age by providing the defensive fortifications for Sergio Conceicao’s Porto side.

And while the legendary defender toasts another year and another season of football, Daily Star sport considers the 10 oldest players who are still playing today.

Serghei Pascenco

While he is yet to make an appearance this season, Moldovan giants Sheriff Tiraspol can always be safe in the knowledge they have plenty of experience on their substitutes’ bench.

Moldovan shot-stopper Serghei Pascenco is one of the oldest players in football at a seasonal 39-years-old.

While he is yet to make a single appearance for Sheriff, he would have enjoyed his younger comrades’ electric victories against Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid.

Marten Stekelenburg

12 years ago, Marten Stekelenburg watched helplessly as Andres Iniesta smashed a half-volley past him to win Spain’s first ever World Cup.

The current Ajax goalkeeper and former Everton, Southampton, and Fulham ace was considered an experienced goalkeeper during Holland’s run to the final in South Africa.

But at 39-years-old, he continues to defy his age by providing valuable goalkeeping competition at Ajax.

He is currently set to celebrate a fourth Eredivisie title at the iconic Dutch side.

Willy Caballero

The former Chelsea and Manchester City goalkeeper was signed by Southampton on an emergency short-term deal, after the Saints suffered a goalkeeper crisis.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side went on to extend his deal at Saint Mary’s until the end of the season.

When he entered the sticks for their 3-0 away loss to Arsenal, the 40-year-old became the oldest player to compete in the Premier League this season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Has there ever been a player who has so consistently set the standard for as long as Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

The legendary Swede made his senior debut for Malmo in 1999 but continues to star for AC Milan at the age of 40-years-old.

While most players his age are warming the bench, he has made 15 Serie A appearances for the Rossonneri, contributing eight goals and two assists.

As he has said himself on numerous occasions, Ibrahimovic is football’s answer to fine wine, and considering his incredible physique and intelligence, who is to say that he cannot play for even longer?

Roque Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz starred for Blackburn Rovers before a frustrating move to Manchester City

A mere utterance of Roque Santa Cruz’s name is enough to give Premier League supporters flashbacks to the noughties.

His incredible goal haul of 19 goals and seven assists in the 2007-08 season eventually convinced Manchester City to sign him for £17million in 2009.

While he did not quite take off on the blue side of Manchester, Santa Cruz is still starring in blue for Paraguayan Primera Division side Libertad.

At the age of 40-years-old, he began the season well with a goal in their opening match of the season February 6.

Joaquin

Joaquin is still wracking up hundreds of La Liga appearances

Joaquin can add foiling Russian president Vladimir Putin to his long list of achievements, as he contributed a vital assist that helped knock the Russian President’s favourite team Zenit St Petersburg out of the Europa League.

It is certainly a nice gong for the seemingly immortal 40-year-old, who is La Liga heritage in its purest form.

He has racked up an astonishing 589 La Liga appearances while playing for Valencia, Malaga, and two spells with Real Betis.

Shunsuke Nakamura

Nakamura's free-kicks have gone down in Celtic folklore

Many readers may get the Japanese ace confused with similarly named WWE superstar Shinsuke Nakamura, but Celtic supporters will never forget the contributions of Shunsuke Nakamura at Celtic Park.

It is remarkable to believe that the magician, who’s swerving free-kicks saw them clinch the 2007 Scottish Premier League, and overcome Manchester United in the 2006 Champions League, is still playing football.

At the age of 43-years-old, Nakamurais still playing for Japanese second division side Yokohama FC.

Gianluigi Buffon

Buffon returned to Parma at the start of the season

One of the best goalkeepers the game has ever seen, Gianluigi Buffon made an emotional return to his boyhood side Parma at the start of the season.

At the age of 44-years-old, Buffon has won the World Cup, 11 Serie A titles, six Italian Cups, the French Championship, and the UEFA Cup.

However, he currently looks set to bring down the curtain on an emotional career by finishing his career at the very side he became the most expensive goalkeeper in world football.

Vitorino Hilton

Hilton spent ten years at Montpellier before dropping down to the French third division

Unbelievably, Vitorino Hilton will find himself on a similar list next season, as the Brazilian ace is contracted to French third division side FC Sete 34 until next season.

The 44-year-old began his career as somewhat of a journeyman in France, playing for SC Bastia, Lens, Marseille, before joining and staying with Montpellier for ten years between 2011 and 2021.

And the Brazilian appeared to have played his final game last season when he left Montpellier in the summer of 2021.

However, he is now back in action at the heart of the French minnows’ defence.

Kazuyoshi Miura

Miura is currently the oldest professional football player in the world

If the fountain of youth does exist, then Kazuyoshi Miura has sipped, drunk, and bathed in it.

At 54-years-old, he is, by some distance, the world’s oldest professional football player in world football today.

While he is not the oldest player in football history, that gong belongs to then 74-year-old Ezzeldin Bahader who earned the world record when he played of 6th October FC – real name of the club – against Egyptian third tier side El Ayat.

But considering Miura played his first professional match in 1982, who would bet against King Kaz breaking the world record in 21-years-time.