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Football, they say, is a young man's sport (try telling that to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi). With a lot of emphasis on fitness, stamina and speed in the modern game, more and more players are finding themselves sidelined once they cross the age of 30.
However, these 5 players have defied time and have almost got better the older they have got. The top 3 players in this list are arguably the top 3 players in world football at the moment.
While they might not have the explosive pace of players like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, their experience, skill and desire to keep getting better makes these 5 players true legends of the sport.
Without further ado, let us take a look at:
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Top 5 players above the age of 30 currently (2021)
#5 N'Golo Kante - Chelsea (30 years old)
One of the best defensive midfielders to ever play the game, N'Golo Kante has been in fine form for Chelsea this season. The 30-year-old has played a crucial role in Chelsea's renaissance under Thomas Tuchel.
A tenacious tackler, N'Golo Kante showed his importance to the team with a stunning performance against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg.
A true team player, Kante always leaves it all on the field. His stamina, determination and grit are unrivaled while his skill on the ball is grossly underestimated.
N'Golo Kante will need to be at his best for Chelsea if they are to win the Champions League final against Manchester City.
#4 Karim Benzema - Real Madrid (33 years old)
Real Madrid have had a difficult season. Bad form, numerous injuries and the Covid crisis have all threatened to derail Real Madrid's 2020-21 campaign. However, one man who has almost singlehandedly kept them relevant in the La Liga title race this season has been Karim Benzema.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Juventus, Karim Benzema has become Real Madrid's main goalscoring threat. This season, the French superstar has scored an incredible 29 goals and grabbed a further 8 assists in just 44 appearances for Los Blancos.
Real Madrid might end the season trophyless, but Karim Benzema can definitely be proud of his efforts and goalscoring display this season.
Also read: 10 greatest midfielders of all time
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus (36 years old)
Cristiano Ronaldo is an absolute goalscoring phenomenon. At an age where most footballers would have retired, the 5 time Ballon d'Or winner is still going strong and breaking records with ease.
Juventus have relied heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo for goals this season. The Portuguese superstar is comfortably ahead of Romelu Lukaku in the race for Serie A's Golden Boot, having scored an incredible 29 goals in the league this season.
Although Juventus are out of the title race, Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to inspire the Old Lady to a Coppa Italia triumph against Atalanta. Juventus are also in with a chance of being in the top 4 and they will be looking towards Cristiano Ronaldo once again for goalscoring inspiration.
Ronaldo's future at Juventus has been subject to intense speculation over the last few weeks and it will be interesting to see where he will be playing next season.
#2 Lionel Messi - Barcelona (33 years old)
Undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time, Lionel Messi has put in some absolutely magical performances this season. The Argentine superstar has once again been Barcelona's best player but the Blaugrana have struggled under Ronald Koeman this season.
Although Barcelona did win the Copa del Rey, their performances in the league have been disappointing. Lionel Messi, though, has once again dominated La Liga. The 6-time Ballon d'Or winner has been in stunning form, scoring 30 goals and assisting 9 more in just 35 appearances.
With Messi's contract running out in the summer, the Argentine has been linked with high profile moves to Manchester City and PSG. Messi will also be keen to win an international trophy with Argentina in the Copa America this summer.
#1 Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich (32 years old)
Arguably the best player in world football at the moment, Robert Lewandowski has had another stunning season for Bayern Munich. The star of Bayern Munich's incredible treble in 2019/20, the Polish striker has continued to score goals and win matches for his team with astonishing consistency.
With 40 goals in just 28 appearances in the Bundesliga this season, Lewandowski is just one goal away from breaking the great Gerd Muller's record. A complete striker and an incredible finisher, Lewandowski's absence was sorely felt in Bayern Munich's Champions League loss against PSG.
Unlucky to miss out on the Ballon d'Or due to its cancelation last year, Lewandowski will be among the favorites to claim football's top individual prize this year.
Honorable mentions: Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
