Given that soccer is one of the most physically demanding sports on the planet—requiring a rare combination of elite stamina, strength, and speed—you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s strictly a young person’s game.
And for the most part, you’d be right. Most professional players peak in their late 20s and hang up their boots by their mid-30s.
But some athletes defy the odds.
Whether through elite conditioning, unique playing styles, or sheer determination, a select few have continued competing well into their 40s—and in some exceptional cases, even into their 50s.
Here, we break down the oldest soccer players in history, both past and present, and explore how they managed to extend their careers far beyond the norm.
