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Many players in world football defy age and continue to perform at the very highest of levels at the global stage. They age like fine wine and actually become better with age, dazzling audiences and confounding opponents with skill and expertise. Here is a look at the top five veterans in the world right now:
5. Aritz Aduriz
Aritz is experienced even by the standards of this list! At 37 years old, Aritz Aduriz has been defying critics and age alike for well over 5 seasons now! He has played for Athletic Bilbao for the majority of his career over three separate spells.
He had himself a freak season in 2016 and at 35, was selected as a striker for the Spanish National Side that represented the country at Euro 2016! Over the span of his career, he has scored over 150 goals for Athletic Bilbao alone, apart from his exploits for Mallorca and Valencia. Aduriz is not the most physical striker but is known for his aerial ability, courtesy his 6ft frame, and his positioning and finishing skills in the box.
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Aduriz was instrumental in helping Bilbao to their first trophy in 31 years - the Supercopa De Espana! The trophy was contested over two legs and Aduriz scored a Hat-Trick in the first leg which led Athletic to a 4-0 victory. Athletic went on to claim the trophy with a 5-1 aggregate win and Aduriz was hailed as the harbinger of success.
At 34 and 35 years of age, Aduriz was the joint top scorer in the Europa League (In 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons) and was a finalist in the Europa League and Copa del Rey. While most people suffer from a decline in form with age, Aritz Aduriz has been a late bloomer who has, in fact, stepped up his game with the passing of age.
4. Andrea Barzagli
Andrea Barzagli is considered to be one of the best and most consistent defenders of his generation! His name is ranked among other legendary veteran defenders of the days of yore such as Alessandro Nesta and Javier Zanetti.
Barzagli started his career as a journeyman who represented several lower division Italian sides before joining Chievo and Palermo in Serie A. He even represented Vfl Wolfsburg in Germany - where he won a Bundesliga title in 2009.
However, it was after returning to Italy with Juventus in 2011 that he really developed into the dominant, fearsome defensive force to be reckoned with. In the years since, Barzagli has helped Juventus to 7 successive Serie A titles and 4 Coppa Italias. He has been a veteran in the international setup with Italy and won the FIFA World Cup in 2006, apart from finishing Runners-Up in Euro 2012. He was also a Bronze medal recipient in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
At 37, Barzagli is in the twilight of his career and has enjoyed a significant and hugely successful career. Over the course of his professional career, Barzagli has developed into one of the most dominant defenders in the game and has definitely left an everlasting impact on the game, as a whole!
3. Dani Alves
Daniel Alves da Silva, much like many other players on this list, is not just one of the best veterans in the game, but also one of the most legendary players to grace the football pitch, ever. He surpassed the great Pele, to become the most decorated Brazilian player of all time.
Before joining Barcelona, Alves spent 6 successful seasons in Sevilla, winning the Copa Del Rey and two UEFA Super Cups. With Barcelona, he won La Liga 6 times and the Copa Del Rey 4 times, apart from claiming numerous other trophies such as the Club World Cup and the Champions League 3 thrice!
A born achiever, Alves then moved to the Serie A with Juventus, going on to win the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in 2017, putting in a memorable and commendable performance for the ages in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. Even after joining PSG in France, his trend of winning throughout his career showed no signs of stopping as he added Ligue 1 and Coupe De France to his burgeoning trophy cabinet.
At 35, Dani Alves is still putting in remarkable performances on a weekly basis at the highest level for the Parisian Club and shows no signs of stopping. Throughout his career, Alves has always been outdoing himself and has been one of the shining beacons in the world of football.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Need we say more?
Age is just a number for the legend that is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He is one of the few footballers who walks the talk. He has performances and achievements to go with his tall claims and he is, quite literally, the only person who "Dares to Zlatan".
Ibrahimovic's career speaks for itself. He has been a journeyman with a track record of absolutely dominating wherever he goes, and he has his burgeoning trophy cabinet to show for it. His individual ability is freakish in its own right and he is known for his powerful shooting, finishing skills, positioning and physicality in the box, to say nothing of his creative and mind-boggling goals. Currently, Ibrahimovic is the third most decorated active player in world football - with 32 trophies.
He has won the Eredivisie twice with Ajax, the Serie A four times, the La Liga, Ligue 1 and Europa League once each - along with several other awards such as EFL Cup, Community Shield, Club World Cup, Supercopa de Espana, et al.
These days, Ibrahimovic can be seen ripping the American defenses open with LA Galaxy. His claims are showing no signs of sobering down, but then again, neither are his goals, so all is good in the King's Kingdom. Here is a video of his latest eye-popping strike for the Galaxy, a supreme example of his long-range striking ability, on his debut for the club. A debut where he introduced himself to the Americans in fitting fashion. An introduction fit for a King.
1. Gianluigi Buffon
Gigi Buffon is one of the legends of football. Period. Arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time, Gigi Buffon has seen it all - from massive successes to relegation to the lower divisions in the aftermath of Calciopoli Scandal.
Throughout everything, over the years, Buffon has consistently been turning in memorable performances between the sticks for Juventus and the Italian National Team. Nearly 25 years after making his professional debut, the 40-year-old Buffon is still among the best in the game for his position and has won everything there is to win. He holds the record for the most clean sheets in Serie A and for Italy alike, apart from holding the record for the longest streak without conceding in the Serie A.
Before joining Juventus, Buffon was a star for Parma, with whom he won the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Super Cup. In 2001, he joined Juventus, becoming the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, a record he held till this season before Kepa Arrizabalaga joined Chelsea from Athletic Club. This record is all the more astonishing when the fact that the transfer window in recent seasons has exploded with inflation is considered.
With Juventus, he won the Serie A 11 times! He also won the Coppa Italia 4 times and the Supercoppa Italiana 5 times. He was a finalist in the Champions League thrice, twice in the last two seasons, and won the World Cup with Italy in 2006. He has also been a perennial Seria A goalkeeper of the year winner and has been a mainstay for the National Side and for Juventus.
At 40, Buffon is looking for fresh challenges with PSG in Ligue 1 and is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. With Buffon, what we've witnessed is history in the making.
