A football player’s career is always brief, and they are entirely correct. Some people appear ready to hang up their boots as soon as they reach their thirties, while even those who are able to achieve the highest levels of longevity in their game are typically finished by their mid-thirties.
But it’s hard to leave a business that’s so hard to make a career out of, and with sports science always evolving, some of the finest in the world are now prolonging their careers to insane lengths. At forty, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to score goals for enjoyment with Al-Nassr, a Saudi team. In February 2024, the Portuguese player scored in his 1000th club match.
It’s hard to predict when Lionel Messi will retire from the beautiful game, but at 37, he hasn’t shown any symptoms of slowing down. Since joining MLS team Inter Miami in 2023, the World Cup winner has been a vital member of the team. However, there are some players who were formerly well-known in the top leagues or for their exploits abroad but have since completely faded from the spotlight, even though there remains that elite group that still defies the odds.
Jo, a free agent
At the age of 18, Jo joined CSKA Moscow after establishing himself for Corinthians from 2003 to 2005. He made a spectacular move to Manchester City in 2008 after a good time in Russia. But since his time with the Premier League’s biggest clubs and subsequent loans to Everton, the Brazilian has been forgotten entirely. He failed to stick in Europe because he was caught up in the hustle and bustle of City’s acquisition.
In Brazil, he has since seen great success with teams like Internacional, Atletico Mineiro, and Corinthians. After earning 20 caps for his nation and scoring five goals, many assumed he would decide to retire when he was released by his beloved Corinthians in 2022.
Jo made the choice to retire in 2023, but he quickly changed his mind. He just left Itabirito and is now 38 years old and searching for his next challenge.
Love Vagner Avai FC
“The streets will never forget” is the epitome of Vagner Love. Many people had pleasant memories of him because of his wild hairstyles, magical abilities, and relentless cannon of a shot on either foot. The Brazilian was also well-known because of how famous his old CSKA Moscow FIFA card was.
He spent a significant portion of his career with the Russian titans in Moscow. Many people imagined he vanished from the world after he left the club in 2013 after serving a second spell there, but they were mistaken. Although he still enjoyed some success in Europe with teams like Monaco and Besiktas, Brazil was the main source of his success. He thought he had a little more to offer after leaving Sport Club do Recife in 2023 at the age of 38, and he joined Atlético Goianiense in 2024. Love is currently playing for Avai FC after that spell lasted for all 25 games.
Podolski Lukas Górnik Zabrze
At the height of his abilities, Lukas Podolski was undoubtedly one of the best left-footed football players. The opposing keepers had no chance once he was setting up a shot, and they were eventually rooted to the spot and watched the ball sail past them.
Before joining Premier League powerhouse Arsenal, he played for FC Koln and Bayern Munich in Germany for a significant portion of his career. The elusive attacker was sold to Galatasaray after three years in north London. After spending two years in Turkey, Podolski hardly ever heard from again. Unsurprisingly, he continues to score the occasional screamer while playing for Polish team Górnik Zabrze.
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