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In the football world, once players turn 30, they enter the tail end of their playing careers. Most footballers plying their trade in the top flights of Europe hang up their boots when they are in their mid-30s.
For instance, Xabi Alonso and Philipp Lahm retired together at the end of the 2016/17 season when they were 35 and 33-years-old respectively.
There is also a drastic drop in form and performance for many players once they are on the wrong side of 30. Wayne Rooney and Iker Casillas are the best examples of world-class superstars who struggled once they crossed the 30-year barrier.
However, there are many superstars aged 30 and above still on top of their game in Europe’s major leagues. For them, age is still a number and they haven’t shown signs of slowing down as of now. So, here is the best XI aged 30 and over from 2018.
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Goalkeeper - Hugo Lloris
The 30s isn’t a big age for goalkeepers and it is often said that the peak of a goalkeeper’s career is in their late 20s and early 30s. We were spoilt for choices in this department but it was hard to look past France’s World Cup winning captain and goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris.
Lloris helped Spurs finish third in the league at the end of the 2017/18 season before leading France to the World Cup. He started all but one of France’s games at the World Cup to help his nation clinch their second World Cup.
His performance for France and Spurs didn’t go unnoticed and he was named the second best goalkeeper in the world at the Best FIFA awards behind Thibaut Courtois. He finished second behind Courtois again for the International Federation of Football History & Statistics World’s Best Goalkeeper award.
Honourable mentions - Gianluigi Buffon, Samir Handanovic, Manuel Neuer and Keylor Navas.
Fullbacks - Dani Alves and Marcelo
The two full-backs in this XI are also the two full-backs named in the FIFA FIFPro World11 for 2018.
Dani Alves was a dubious decision for the FIFProXI as he missed a significant few months of the year through injury but he is undoubtedly the only choice at right-back in this XI.
Alves added four more trophies to his collection this year with PSG by winning the Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophée des Champions. With these four trophies, he has opened up a lead at the top of the table for players with most trophies in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
Alves’ compatriot, Marcelo, also had a memorable year and he further established his credentials as the best left-back in the world.
Marcelo played a crucial role in helping Real Madrid win their third Champions League title on the trot. He even scored a crucial goal in the semifinal against Bayern Munich. In addition to the Champions League, he also won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2018.
Honourable mentions - Filipe Luis, Juanfran, Aleksandar Kolarov and Lukasz Piszczek
Centre-backs - Sergio Ramos and Giorgio Chiellini
Sergio Ramous is arguably the best defender in the world at the moment and even at the age of 32, he continues to perform with the same vigour and aggression.
Ramos helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup in 2018. His contributions towards the success of his team also earned him many individual accolades.
The Spaniard was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI for the eighth successive season, he was named the UEFA Defender of the Season and was also included in the IFFHS Men's World Team of 2018.
Completing the defence is the captain of Italy and Juventus, Giorgio Chiellini.
Chiellini won the Serie A and Coppa Italia in 2018 with Juventus to add to his trophy cabinet. He was unsurprisingly named in the Serie A Team of the Year and the UEFA Champions League squad of the season.
Honourable mentions - Diego Godin, Leonardo Bonucci, Thiago Silva, Gerard Pique and Jan Vertonghen
Midfielders - Sergio Busquets, Luka Modric and David Silva
At the base of the midfield is Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets who turned 30 earlier this year. He has been a constant in the Barcelona and Spain midfield for so long that it is difficult to fathom that he just turned 30 this year.
Busquets won the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana with Barcelona in what has proven to be another successful year for the Spaniard.
Luka Modric was an automatic choice in this XI after the best year of his professional career. Not only did he win the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid, but he also led the underdogs, Croatia, to the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Modric ended the Ronald-Messi duopoly for the Ballon d’Or after ten long years. He also won the FIFA Best Player of the Year award and the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award among numerous other individual awards.
The final player in the midfield, David Silva, was a surprise exclusion from the final 23 for the Ballon d’Or after playing a crucial role in Manchester City’s record-breaking title-winning season.
Silva also won the Football League Cup in 2018 and was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the second time in his career.
Honourable mentions - Ivan Rakitic, Marek Hamsik, Fernandinho, Blaise Matuidi and Dimitri Payet
Forwards - Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo
The forward line-up picks itself. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez continue to outperform almost every forward on the planet despite being 33, 31 and 31-years-old respectively.
Ronaldo had a year to remember in 2018. He clinched the fifth Champions League title of his career with Real Madrid before scoring four goals at the World Cup with Portugal. After which, he completed a shock move to Juventus.
The Portuguese ace scored 47 goals for both club and country in 2018.
Lionel Messi had an outstanding year in 2018 and it’s shocking that he was voted 5th for the Ballon d’Or this year. He topped the La Liga charts for goals scored, assists provided, chances created and dribbles completed last season and he continues to do so this season as well.
Messi has a combined total of 70 goals and assists this year for Barcelona which is 14 more than the nearest competitor.
Completing the XI is Messi’s partner in crime Luis Suarez who has the second highest tally in 2018 for most goals and assists combined with 56 to his name.
Suarez played a key role alongside Lionel Messi as Barcelona went on to clinch the league title, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España.
Honourable mentions - Robert Lewandowski, Edinson Cavani and Sergio Aguero
