Gringo
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Zola had his best season for Chelsea when he was 36!
That midfieldVan Der Sar
Cafu
Cannavaro
Maldini
Zanetti
Xavi
Pirlo
Scholes
Ronaldo
Zlatan
Messi
Puskás was over 50 when that picture was taken, long after his active career.It’s difficult to compare players from past eras to the modern age considering Puskas looked like this when he was playing as a post 30 year old player:
https://www.google.com/search?q=pus...YI_enGB707GB707&hl=en-US#imgrc=Se4WAkM38Cft_M
The clear and obvious winner of this debate is C.Ronaldo.
3 Ballon D’ors, 3 CLs, a European Cup, over 300 goals scored and countless unprecedented milestones achieved after his 30th birthday.
That’s one hell of a lineup.Van Der Sar
Cafu
Cannavaro
Maldini
Zanetti
Xavi
Pirlo
Scholes
Ronaldo
Zlatan
Messi
Tasotti - Costacurta - Baressi - MaldiniMaldini 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
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.Not sure whether it was tasotti? or panuci?
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
Maldini as well, surely. Incredible footballer in his 30’s.Baresi , zanetti, Baggio, Pirlo. Plenty to choose from.
Rooney peaked early at 18, since then he gradually lost his explosiveness..Rooney
5 greatest players of all timeGoing back a bit but Mick Mills the former Ipswich and England fullback got better after turning 30.
Would this midfield work in the modern game or just not mobile enough? Would be interesting.Van Der Sar
Cafu
Cannavaro
Maldini
Zanetti
Xavi
Pirlo
Scholes
Ronaldo
Zlatan
Messi
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.That midfield is insane
Interesting! As a Liverpool fan, I didn't know he had such a wonderful post-LFC career.Sami Hyypiä. Maybe a ittle bit biased but he joined us at almost 37 and immediately became one of the best CBs of the Bundesliga under Heynckes. Was our key player in going a record breaking 24 games undefeated.
Sheringham? We are here talking about Cristiano Ronaldo, Puskas, Maldini, Xavi, Pirlo etc, and this guy come out with Teddy fecking Sheringham. Wow.Sheringham was player of the year and played his best football at 31.
Van Der Saar peaked in his 30s too
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.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.
I'm fully aware, mate, i was taking the pissRooney 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.
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.Interesting! As a Liverpool fan, I didn't know he had such a wonderful post-LFC career.
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.Weirdly enough, I'm not even sure he's the best 30+ player for Madrid (who might do a clean sweep of the Top 3 spots), unless we place a premium on international football exploits...
Di Stéfano: 2 Ballon D'Or titles, 4 Pichichi titles and twice European Cup top scorer + 4 European Cup titles and 6 La Liga titles.
Cristiano: 2 Ballon D'Or titles and thrice European Cup top scorer + 3 European Cup titles, 1 European Championship title and 1 La Liga title.
Puskás: 4 Pichichi titles and twice European top score + 3 European Cup titles and 4 La Liga titles.
Other candidates for the Top 5: Maldini, Xavi, Matthäus, Lahm, Modrić, Zanetti, Nedvěd, Alves, Pirlo, Nordahl, Baresi, Ibrahimović, Giggs, Cafú, Robbery, Scholes, Liedholm, Totti and a bunch of goalkeepers (Buffon, Van der Sar, Schmeichel, Kahn, Zoff).
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.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.
He captained Italy to the World Cup at 40. That takes some doing.Dino Zoff