Former AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Barcelona stars are among the many oldest outfield gamers to have ever performed in Europe’s high 5 leagues.
With the current advances in sports activities science, it’s turning into more and more widespread that skilled footballers are enjoying into their forties.
Since 1992, listed here are the seven oldest outfield gamers to have performed within the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga and Ligue 1.
7. Amedeo Carboni – 41 years, 1 month, 10 days
The Italian defender spent the final 9 years of his profession enjoying in Spain for Valencia and made his ultimate La Liga look on the age of 41.
On the time of his retirement in 2006, he was solely two months youthful than Valencia’s supervisor on the time, Quique Sanchez Flores.
6. Benjamin Nivet – 41 years, 4 months, 17 days
The French attacking midfielder spent most of his profession enjoying for Troyes and he made his ultimate look in Ligue 1 in 2018 on the age of 41.
It’s price noting that Nivet did proceed enjoying till the age of 42, however Troyes have been in Ligue 2 throughout his ultimate season as an expert.
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 41 years, 5 months, 15 days
After becoming a member of LA Galaxy in 2018 on the age of 36, most individuals had assumed that he’d finish his profession in the USA.
Nonetheless, after scoring 53 targets in two years, he made his return to Europe in 2019 and spent one other 4 years enjoying for AC Milan earlier than he ultimately retired.
Even within the twilight years of his profession, the Swedish worldwide nonetheless knew easy methods to discover the again of the web.
Throughout his second spell with Milan, Ibrahimovic scored 37 targets in 78 appearances and helped the membership win the Serie A title.
He made his ultimate league look on the age of 41 and holds the file because the oldest outfield participant to function in Italy’s high flight since 1992.
4. Dante – 41 years, 6 months, 29 days*
Nonetheless enjoying in Ligue 1 for Good, Dante has the chance to rise on this listing when he performs subsequent season.
His final league look got here again in Might and he was 41 years outdated on the time. He just lately prolonged his contract for the 2025-26 season, which means that he’ll play in Ligue 1 till he’s at the least 42 years outdated.
Regardless of his age, the Brazilian hasn’t proven many indicators of slowing down lately. He made 25 league appearances final season and nonetheless appears as motivated as ever to proceed on the high degree.
“Each time I’m coming into the pitch, I say to myself it could possibly be my ultimate recreation,” Dante stated throughout an interview final yr.
“I’ve to take advantage of it. I’m aiming for June 2026 however I can’t transcend that. That’s confirmed.
“That signifies that if subsequent yr I play once more, it is going to be my final season.”
3. Claudio Pizarro – 41 years, 8 months, 24 days
Pizarro made his ultimate Bundesliga look in June 2020, aged 41 years, 8 months, 24 days outdated.
The Peru worldwide spent his final couple of seasons enjoying for Werder Bremen, the place he’d beforehand had three different stints.
His final look got here in a 6-1 hammering of FC Koln, with Pizarro coming off the bench for the previous few minutes of the sport.
To this present day, he’s nonetheless the oldest outfield participant to ever function within the Bundesliga.
2. Joaquin – 41 years, 10 months, 14 days
The previous Actual Betis winger holds the file because the outright oldest participant to have ever made an look in La Liga since 1992.
Joaquin spent the majority of his profession enjoying for Betis and through his two spells with the membership, racked up over 500 appearances.
After serving to the membership qualify for the Europa League, he introduced his retirement on the finish of the 2022–23 marketing campaign.
1. Vitorino Hilton – 43 years, 8 months, 10 days
The oldest outfield participant within the historical past of Europe’s high 5 leagues is Hilton, who was nearly 44 years outdated when he made his ultimate Ligue 1 look for Montpellier.
He spent a decade enjoying for the French membership and racked up over 350 appearances for them between 2011 and 2021.
Amazingly, he continued enjoying after leaving Montpellier and had a brief stint with French third division membership FC Sete, earlier than he lastly referred to as it quits on his enjoying days.
Aged 43 years, 8 months, 10 days, it’s powerful to see anybody breaking his file quickly.
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