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They say age is a number. But considering the physical nature of the game, not many footballers can continue playing at a high level until their mid-30s and beyond.
30 is generally considered to be the age when a professional player's physical ability begins declining. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. With improved physical fitness and conditioning, more and more players are able to play well into their 30s at the top. A fantastic example is Gianluigi Buffon, who is still going strong with his boyhood club Parma at the age of 42.
There have been many instances of players in their 30s winning big titles for their teams. On that note, here's a look at the five most valuable players aged 34 and above at the moment:
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#5 Keylor Navas (34) - €12 million
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) custodian Keylor Navas has been a standout performer in goal for club and country over the years.
The 34-year-old Costa Rican international has kept an impressive 40 clean sheets in 85 games across competitions for PSG. Navas was a standout performer in the Parisians' win against defending champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season. He also excelled during their run to the final in the same competition during the 2019-20 campaign.
Before arriving at PSG two summers ago, Navas won three Champions League and one La Liga title with Real Madrid. But Thibaut Courtois' arrival made him surplus to requirements. Navas has also kept 34 clean sheets in 95 caps for the Costa Rican national team.
The Costa Rican hit the ground running in Paris, helping PSG win the 2019-20 Ligue 1 title by keeping 11 clean sheets in 21 games. Navas has started all four league games this season, ahead of Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
#4 Luis Suarez (34) - €15 million
Luis Suarez is one of the most prolific strikers to have graced the game since the turn of the century.
After prolific stints at Ajax and Liverpool, Suarez arrived at Barcelona in the summer of 2014 and soared to greater heights. In a hugely successful six-season stay at Camp Nou, the Uruguayan scored almost 200 goals. He formed a fearsome attacking triumvirate with Lionel Messi and Neymar, with the trio powering the Catalans to the continental treble in 2014-15.
Following a lean campaign in 2019-20, Suarez was surprisingly sold by the Blaugrana to direct rivals Atletico Madrid. The Uruguayan proved to his old employers that they were wrong in letting him go almost immediately. Suarez struck 21 league goals to help the Rojiblancos win their first La Liga title in seven years.
Suarez is also Uruguay's all-time top scorer with 63 goals in 123 caps. He is expected to produce another prolific campaign this term as the Rojiblancos seek to win consecutive league titles.
#3 Manuel Neuer (35) - €18 million
Manuel Neuer is one of the top goalkeepers in the game at the moment. The 35-year-old is the first-choice custodian for both Bayern Munich and Germany.
Neuer has kept over 200 clean sheets in a prolific decade-long stint with Bayern. The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner has also won nine Bundesliga titles and two continental trebles with the club.
The epitome of a quintessential sweeper-keeper, Neuer is renowned for his excellent reflexes, shot-stopping prowess and ability to play from the back. He recently became the first goalkeeper to play 100 games for Germany. Neuer now has 105 caps and an excellent 44 clean sheets for Die Mannschaft.
Neuer will be a key player in Bayern's quest to win ten consecutive Bundesliga titles this season. He has shown no signs of stopping any time soon and looks set to grace the game for a few more seasons.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (36) - €45 million
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players to have graced the beautiful game.
During an illustrious two-decade-long career for club and country, the 36-year-old has scored goals and won titles galore. Last season, Ronaldo won his first Capocannonieri award, scoring 29 goals in 33 Serie A matches. In the process, he became the first Juventus player to score 100 goals in their first three seasons.
Ronaldo enjoyed a productive Euro 2020 campaign, winning five goals and bagging an assist to take home the Golden Boot. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has also returned to Manchester United this summer. Yet to make his second debut for the club, Ronaldo recently broke Ali Daei's record for most goals (109) by a male player in international football as well. The Portuguese now sits atop the list with 111 goals for his national team.
He will now hope to hit the ground running at United, whom he left to join Real Madrid 12 years ago. Ronaldo, who won Euro 2016 with Portugal, is the only player to win five Champions League titles. Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid's all-time top scorer also happens to be the all-time top scorer in the Champions League.
#1 Lionel Messi (34) - €80 million
Lionel Messi, like Ronaldo, is widely regarded as one of the finest players to have played the game.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner is still going strong at the age of 34. He played a starring role in Argentina's triumphant Copa America 2021 campaign, scoring four goals and bagging five assists.
Messi joined PSG after a highly successful 17-season stint with Barcelona this summer. The Blaugrana were unable to extend the Argentine's contract due to La Liga's fair play regulations, which saw him move to France. Messi tallied almost 1100 goal contributions (672 goals, 305 assists) at Barcelona, winning ten La Liga titles and two continental trebles.
The 34-year-old is widely expected to play a starring role for his new club as PSG seek to become the latest team to win the Champions League.
