Top 10 Oldest Active Footballers in the World

Football demands immense physical and tactical skill, yet some players defy age to remain competitive. While most retire in their thirties, a few veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, and Thiago Silva keep performing at top levels through discipline and experience. Leading this group is Japan’s Kazuyoshi Miura, active at 59, showing that dedication can prolong careers well beyond usual limits.

Ranking the Oldest Footballers Still Playing Professionally

• Rank: 10
• Player: Manuel Neuer
• Age: 40
• Country: Germany
• Current Club: Bayern Munich
• Career Start Date: 2005

• Rank: 9
• Player: Luka Modrić
• Age: 40
• Country: Croatia
• Current Club: AC Milan
• Career Start Date: 2003

• Rank: 8
• Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
• Age: 41
• Country: Portugal
• Current Club: Al Nassr
• Career Start Date: 2002

• Rank: 7
• Player: Santi Cazorla
• Age: 41
• Country: Spain
• Current Club: Real Oviedo
• Career Start Date: 2003

• Rank: 6
• Player: Thiago Silva
• Age: 41
• Country: Brazil
• Current Club: Porto
• Career Start Date: 2002

• Rank: 5
• Player: José Fonte
• Age: 42
• Country: Portugal
• Current Club: Casa Pia
• Career Start Date: 2003

• Rank: 4
• Player: Roque Santa Cruz
• Age: 44
• Country: Paraguay
• Current Club: Nacional
• Career Start Date: 1997

• Rank: 3
• Player: Fábio
• Age: 45
• Country: Brazil
• Current Club: Fluminense
• Career Start Date: 1997

• Rank: 2
• Player: Georgi Petkov
• Age: 50
• Country: Bulgaria
• Current Club: Slavia Sofia
• Career Start Date: 1996

• Rank: 1
• Player: Kazuyoshi Miura
• Age: 59
• Country: Japan
• Current Club: Atletico Suzuka
• Career Start Date: 1986

Profiles of Some of the Oldest Active Footballers

At 39, Manuel Neuer remains Bayern Munich's key goalkeeper after retiring internationally in 2024. Rising from Schalke's youth system, he joined Bayern in 2011. Neuer, widely seen as one of the best goalkeepers ever, has won 12 Bundesliga titles, two Champions League trophies, and the 2014 World Cup with Germany. In total, he has made over 980 appearances combined for club and country.

• Age: 39
• Playing Tenure: 2005–Present
• Clubs: Schalke 04, Bayern Munich
• Total Appearances: 858 + 125
• Achievements: FIFA World Cup 2014, 2× UCL, 12× Bundesliga

The Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić plays with the same flair at 40 as he did years ago. Known for his elegance and leadership, he led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final. His career includes stints at Real Madrid, Tottenham, and now AC Milan. Winner of the 2018 Ballon d’Or and six Champions League titles, Modrić continues impressing despite his age.

• Age: 40
• Playing Tenure: 2003–Present
• Clubs: Dinamo Zagreb, Tottenham, Real Madrid, AC Milan
• Total Appearances: 932 + 199
• Achievements: 4× La Liga, Ballon d’Or 2018, 6× UCL, World Cup Runner-up

Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, continues his extraordinary career with Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr. He is the all-time leading international scorer with 143 goals and is nearing 1000 career goals. Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards, five Champions Leagues, and major league titles across England, Spain, and Italy. Recently, he became the second-oldest player to score in a World Cup match at 41.

• Age: 41
• Playing Tenure: 2002–Present
• Clubs: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr
• Total Appearances: 1091 + 229
• Achievements: 5× Ballon d’Or, 5× UCL, UEFA Euro winner, All-time International Top Scorer

At 41, Santi Cazorla captains Real Oviedo, his boyhood club. Known for his skillful play, he overcame serious injuries that sidelined him for nearly two years. Previously, he starred for Villarreal and Arsenal, winning two FA Cups and two European Championships with Spain.

• Age: 41
• Playing Tenure: 2003–Present
• Clubs: Villarreal, Arsenal, Real Oviedo
• Total Appearances: 774 + 81
• Achievements: 2× UEFA Euro, 2× FA Cup

The Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, 41, currently plays for Porto after a stint at Fluminense. He earned 113 caps for Brazil and played in multiple World Cups and Copa Americas. His career includes big clubs like PSG, Chelsea, and AC Milan, winning 24 trophies with PSG alone.

• Age: 41
• Playing Tenure: 2002–Present
• Clubs: AC Milan, PSG, Chelsea, Porto
• Total Appearances: 818 + 113
• Achievements: Copa América, UCL, 7× Ligue 1

José Fonte, aged 42, captains Casa Pia in Portugal's top league. He was part of Portugal’s 2016 European Championship-winning team. At club level, he played for Southampton, Lille, and Crystal Palace, winning Ligue 1 with Lille in 2021 and making over 700 appearances.

• Age: 42
• Playing Tenure: 2003–Present
• Clubs: Southampton, Lille, Casa Pia
• Total Appearances: 751 + 50
• Achievements: UEFA Euro 2016, Ligue 1

Roque Santa Cruz, 44, has had a globe-trotting career, including time at Bayern Munich where he won 13 trophies. Now he leads Nacional in Paraguay, bringing decades of experience. He earned 112 caps for his country and debuted professionally in 1997.

• Age: 44
• Playing Tenure: 1998–Present
• Clubs: Bayern Munich, Blackburn, Nacional
• Total Appearances: 850 + 112
• Achievements: UCL winner 2001, 112 international caps

Goalkeeper Fábio, 45, is the first choice for Fluminense and participated in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Despite never representing Brazil internationally due to stiff competition, he boasts over 1300 professional games and more than 470 clean sheets.

• Age: 45
• Playing Tenure: 1998–Present
• Clubs: Cruzeiro, Fluminense
• Total Appearances: 1303 + 0
• Achievements: Copa Libertadores, 470+ clean sheets

Bulgarian keeper Georgi Petkov still guards the goal at 50 for Slavia Sofia. Starting in 1993, he is among Bulgaria’s most capped players domestically, noted for leadership and consistency. He became the oldest player in Bulgaria’s top flight in 2018 and earned 19 national caps.

• Age: 50
• Playing Tenure: 1996–Present
• Clubs: Slavia Sofia, Levski Sofia, EN Paralimni
• Total Appearances: 402 + 19
• Achievements: 4× Bulgarian Championship, 5× Bulgarian Cup

Kazuyoshi Miura, known as King Kazu, is the oldest active professional footballer at 59. Debuting in 1986 with Santos in Brazil, he played in countries including Italy and Croatia. He earned 90 caps for Japan, scoring 49 goals. Miura currently plays for Atletico Suzuka and holds records as the oldest pro player and goal scorer.

• Age: 58
• Playing Tenure: 1986–Present
• Clubs: Santos, Genoa, Vissel Kobe, Atletico Suzuka
• Total Appearances: 755 + 89
• Achievements: Oldest professional goal scorer

Noteworthy Oldest Players in Football History

• Kevin Poole: 41 years 164 days; England; Burton Albion; Career 1981–2014; English League Cup winner
• Neville Southall: 41 years 178 days; Wales; Canvey Island; Career before 1974–2004; Premier League winner twice
• Roger Milla: 42 years 39 days; Cameroon; Putra Samarinda; Career before 1970–1996; AFCON winner twice
• Mark Schwarzer: 42 years 159 days; Australia/Germany; Leicester City; Career 1990–2016
• Brad Friedel: 42 years 176 days; USA; Tottenham Hotspur; Career before 1994–2015
• Steve Ogrizovic: 42 years 237 days; England/Serbia; Coventry City; Career 1977–2000
• Alec Chamberlain: 42 years 327 days; England; Watford; Career before 1982–2007
• Faryd Mondragon: 43 years 3 days; Colombia; Deportivo Cali; Career 1990–2014
• John Burridge: England; Blyth Spartans; Career before 1970–1998; Oldest Premier League player
• Essam El-Hadary: 45 years 161 days; Egypt; Nogoom FC; Career 1994–2019; Oldest World Cup player

FAQs

• Who is the oldest football player? Kazuyoshi Miura, at 59.
• How old is the oldest football player? 59 years old.
• Who has the longest professional career? Kazuyoshi Miura, since 1986.
• Is Cristiano Ronaldo on the list? Yes, at age 41.