Top 5 players over 30 in 2013

3. Xavi Hernandez (33)

There are only a few players, if any, more technical and more skilful than Xavi Hernandez.

There would not be a team he wouldn’t fit, no football coach would leave this genius of his team. Arguably the greatest midfielder of his generation, Xavi played an important part in bringing the La Liga title back to Cataluña from their fiercest rivals, Real Madrid.

There was no surprise when he was selected into FIFA’s World Team of the Year for 2012, incredibly, for the fifth consecutive year.

His movement, vision, the exquisite passing, his trademark through-balls, it’s simply a joy to watch this master in his full glory on the pitch.

Though one dampener in his year was the loss to Brazil in the Confederation Cup, and the this year’s World Cup might be the last one in which we see the pass-master in his full glory.

But it’s because of his declining form in the current season, he hasn’t been placed higher on this list. The Catalans might be coming to the realization that their youth academy star is in his final years.