Zola had his best season for Chelsea when he was 36!
30 years old and up - 5 greatest players of all time?
- Thread starter Fortitude
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Sportsman nowadays live a lot longer than their predecessors. Don't think this is a fair comparison at all.
Just have a look at mens tennis. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic will probably all playing into their 40s. Serena Williams still making Grand Slam finals approaching 40 herself. Compare that to previous tennis eras where players were washed up by 30.
Other modern sportsman outliving their predecessors?
Ronnie O'Sullivan (in comparison to Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis)
Chris Froome (TdF winners in their 30s were as rare as hens teeth in previous era's)
Tom Brady (age 42, still the best QB in the world)
Lebron James (coming 35, still the best basketball player in the world)
James Anderson (Now 37 still averaging around 20 runs per wicket a year)
There's plenty others, can't think off the top of my head though.
Honestly, I EXPECT Messi and Ronaldo to be #1 and #2 in this category (in whatever order), given the advantages of sports science availible to them. I also think its possible one (if not both) might possibly win a ballon d'or in their 40s.
People will laugh at that suggestion, but a lot of tennis fans were giving me stick for suggesting Federer would be competing for Grand Slams close to age 40 five years ago.
Just have a look at mens tennis. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic will probably all playing into their 40s. Serena Williams still making Grand Slam finals approaching 40 herself. Compare that to previous tennis eras where players were washed up by 30.
Other modern sportsman outliving their predecessors?
Ronnie O'Sullivan (in comparison to Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis)
Chris Froome (TdF winners in their 30s were as rare as hens teeth in previous era's)
Tom Brady (age 42, still the best QB in the world)
Lebron James (coming 35, still the best basketball player in the world)
James Anderson (Now 37 still averaging around 20 runs per wicket a year)
There's plenty others, can't think off the top of my head though.
Honestly, I EXPECT Messi and Ronaldo to be #1 and #2 in this category (in whatever order), given the advantages of sports science availible to them. I also think its possible one (if not both) might possibly win a ballon d'or in their 40s.
People will laugh at that suggestion, but a lot of tennis fans were giving me stick for suggesting Federer would be competing for Grand Slams close to age 40 five years ago.
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That midfield
Di Stefano
Ronaldo
Puskas
Matthaus
Maldini
Other Candidates: Baresi, Buffon, Zanetti, Matthews, Schmeichel, Zoff, Djalma Santos, Nilton Santos, Pirlo, Cafu.
Ronaldo
Puskas
Matthaus
Maldini
Other Candidates: Baresi, Buffon, Zanetti, Matthews, Schmeichel, Zoff, Djalma Santos, Nilton Santos, Pirlo, Cafu.
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Andrea Pirlo
Paolo Maldini
Franco Baressi (his last 2 years is humiliating... but he does maintain it beyond 30)
Schemeichel
Dennis Irwin
Messi (getting there)
Keane wasn't so bad beyond 30
Andrea Pirlo
Paolo Maldini
Franco Baressi (his last 2 years is humiliating... but he does maintain it beyond 30)
Schemeichel
Dennis Irwin
Messi (getting there)
Keane wasn't so bad beyond 30
All time
1. Ronaldo - 2 Ballon D’or (and 3 times runners up), 3 CL, 1 Euro, 2 league title, scored around 230 goals in around 220 games at age 30-34
2. Di Stefano - 2 Ballon D’or, 4 CL, 5 league title, scored around 241 goals in 359 games at age 30-39.
3. Puskas - Scored 242 goals in 262 games at age 31-39 at Real. Won 3 CL and 5 league titles.
4. Stanley Matthews - still playing regularly in top division until he is in his mid-40s. Won Ballon D’or at age 41.
Recent times
1. Ronaldo
2. Zlatan
3. Maldini
4. Zanetti
5. Pirlo
6. Giggs
7. Baggio
8. Matthaus
9. Romario
10. Messi? (still only 32, hard to judge, but getting there)
1. Ronaldo - 2 Ballon D’or (and 3 times runners up), 3 CL, 1 Euro, 2 league title, scored around 230 goals in around 220 games at age 30-34
2. Di Stefano - 2 Ballon D’or, 4 CL, 5 league title, scored around 241 goals in 359 games at age 30-39.
3. Puskas - Scored 242 goals in 262 games at age 31-39 at Real. Won 3 CL and 5 league titles.
4. Stanley Matthews - still playing regularly in top division until he is in his mid-40s. Won Ballon D’or at age 41.
Recent times
1. Ronaldo
2. Zlatan
3. Maldini
4. Zanetti
5. Pirlo
6. Giggs
7. Baggio
8. Matthaus
9. Romario
10. Messi? (still only 32, hard to judge, but getting there)
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Puskás was over 50 when that picture was taken, long after his active career.
Look up the 1960 European Cup final, there are videos of that. He was 33 at the time.
That’s one hell of a lineup.
Fernandinho 34 and still performing at the to level week in week out
Maldini was a world class defender in his 20s and when he got into his 30s he just got better.. Rarely beaten in 1on1. If Scholes could pick a 50 yard pass to perfection then Maldini could spot a pass before it was made and defended space.
He could slide tackle and recover with ease. An absolute rolls Royce of a defender who was the master of his art for many years
He could slide tackle and recover with ease. An absolute rolls Royce of a defender who was the master of his art for many years
Diego Costa
Tasotti - Costacurta - Baressi - Maldini
Stuff of legends (Not sure whether it was tasotti? or panuci?)
Depends on which version we're looking it, really. Panucci was a Capello favorite and never played under Sacchi — slowly edged out the more experienced Tossotti while Fabio was at the club, and subsequently reunited with him at Madrid. Kinda comparable to Desailly, because Rijkaard was the incumbent in midfield and a true Sacchi player. I'd say Tassotti is the one who's more associated with that defense (which was crafted under Sacchi and bore his signature)...a constant presence with Milan for about a decade and a half as a genuine club bandiera, whereas Panucci made only 100+ appearances.
On a side note, while that's quite possibly the best defense in club football, the Italian national team backline + goalkeeper combo from the late '80s and the 1990 World Cup was probably even better wrt. raw ingredients (GOAT caliber defensive fullbacks and GOAT caliber sweeper, and the goalkeeper wasn't half-bad either)...
Maldini Baresi Ferri Bergomi
Zenga
Zenga
Ah, enlightening. thanks for that. Was beyond my time thatDepends on which version we're looking it, really. Panucci was a Capello favorite and never played under Sacchi — slowly edged out the more experienced Tossotti while Fabio was at the club, and subsequently reunited with him at Madrid. Kinda comparable to Desailly, because Rijkaard was the incumbent in midfield and a true Sacchi player. I'd say Tassotti is the one who's more associated with that defense (which was crafted under Sacchi and bore his signature)...a constant presence with Milan for about a decade and a half as a genuine club bandiera, whereas Panucci made only 100+ appearances.
On a side note, while that's quite possibly the best defense in club football, the Italian national team backline + goalkeeper combo from the late '80s and the 1990 World Cup was probably even better wrt. raw ingredients (GOAT caliber defensive fullbacks and GOAT caliber sweeper, and the goalkeeper wasn't half-bad either)...
Maldini Baresi Ferri Bergomi
Zenga
gareth barry?
Maldini as well, surely. Incredible footballer in his 30’s.
Italian players age very well indeed.
Rivaldo is still knocking about I think
Rooney peaked early at 18, since then he gradually lost his explosiveness..
Rooney was at his best when he was running around like a mad men.
But he had a lengthy run being a world class player until 28-29. Worth every penny.
Gary speed is another. Makelele was quality in his 30s also. Batigol has probably been mentioned. Naybet is a good shout on the African front along with Yaya Toure, Lucas Radebe and all tjose ageless Egyptian legends.
W.G.Grace, oops wrong sport.
Romário at 34 y.o. was trashing a Man Utd UCL winner defense
Rui Costa best phase was actually after 30 y.o.
Vitor Baía despite being a talented keeper was a very irregular during his 20's (eventually costed him his place at Barça team), but he became more reliable than ever after 30's
Jonas is the most recent example I can remember and if it wasn't for his severe spinal cord problems, he would still be banging them this season.
Rui Costa best phase was actually after 30 y.o.
Vitor Baía despite being a talented keeper was a very irregular during his 20's (eventually costed him his place at Barça team), but he became more reliable than ever after 30's
Jonas is the most recent example I can remember and if it wasn't for his severe spinal cord problems, he would still be banging them this season.
Completely forgot Cafú. The guy outran Cristiano Ronaldo at 34!
Going back a bit but Mick Mills the former Ipswich and England fullback got better after turning 30.
Stanley Matthews
5 greatest players of all time
Can't remember who said that Zlatan might be the most overrated player ever. But you know he is overrated when people put him above the likes of Puskas.
What has Zlatan won after turning 30? A few titles with PSG in Ligue 1. His best seasons were in Serie A and Ligue 1 which were 4th and 5th best leagues in Europe at the time. Serie 1 was hit by scandals at the time and PSG would have dominated Ligue 1 with or without Zlatan anyway. Top footballer obviously, but not comparable to Puskas and Di Stefano who were monsters in their 30s while winning everything.
What has Zlatan won after turning 30? A few titles with PSG in Ligue 1. His best seasons were in Serie A and Ligue 1 which were 4th and 5th best leagues in Europe at the time. Serie 1 was hit by scandals at the time and PSG would have dominated Ligue 1 with or without Zlatan anyway. Top footballer obviously, but not comparable to Puskas and Di Stefano who were monsters in their 30s while winning everything.
Would this midfield work in the modern game or just not mobile enough? Would be interesting.
Legendary players here though.
Ronaldo is the obvious winner though. GOAT for me and has been a freak in his 30's
Even Barcelona/Spain needed a Busquets type player though - there isn't one there. So while the actual players are all clearly very great, it's only an 'insane' midfield in that its one that probably wouldn't work.
Interesting! As a Liverpool fan, I didn't know he had such a wonderful post-LFC career.
Sheringham? We are here talking about Cristiano Ronaldo, Puskas, Maldini, Xavi, Pirlo etc, and this guy come out with Teddy fecking Sheringham. Wow.
He did win POTY that’s true, but he was very lucky. He scored a shed load of goals in Sept, Oct, Nov, but then disappeared into his shell again. I think he only scored 2 or 3 goals from open play from December onwards.
Anyway, he is definitely not in the category of the aforementioned players.
Some nice shouts there. On Rui Costa you'll know better as a Benfica fan, I preferred him at Fiorentina, particularly in the late 1990s where he was more mobile and struck up such a devastating partnership with Batistuta. Strong shout to be the most consistently impressive playmaking 10 of the decade in Serie A (taking Baggio as a 9.5). At Milan he was still class but stopped scoring goals, losing some of his legs.
Robben was better when He was old and bald
When He still had hairs He was nothing
When He still had hairs He was nothing
I'm fully aware, mate, i was taking the piss
One of the best players we ever had, even if he became a shadow of himself when he got closer to 30.
He lost his starting position during the following season but yeah, the first 1.5 years over here were great. Still has a great reputation at the club and among the fans both as a player and pesonality although his short episode as our manager was quite dull.
It's a fair argument, but it depends on how much weight you put into winning those European Cups in the 50s. I don't think we can deny that winning it in the modern era is a lot more difficult and to win it 3 times in a row in this era (let alone retain it) is unprecedented. Then you also have the international achievements with CR wins out, quite clearly too.
You have a point there: his goal threat and speed was much bigger under the viola shirt, but his consistency at Milan was terrific. But a trequartista in Ancelotti system comes deeper to get the ball. This was also done to accommodate Kaka (and Rivaldo before) to play between the lines . His pinpoint passing from deep positions made him an invaluable asset for that Milan team.
He captained Italy to the World Cup at 40. That takes some doing.
Giggs played until he was 40 didn't he.