Table of Contents
1. Francesco Totti
Retirement age: 41
The Roman has gone through the ages but has never left his favorite club. From his debut in 1993 to the end of his career in 2017, Francesco Totti has never known another jersey than that of AS Roma.
A true living legend of AS Roma club Italy national team he won the World Cup in 2006.
2. Paolo Maldini
Retirement age: 41
When we talk about loyalty in football, two names immediately come to mind: that of Francesco Totti and that of Paolo Maldini. The Italian defender has indeed spent his entire football career at AC Milan, which he joined at the age of 10.
With more than 900 games played in the AC Milan jersey and 5 Champions League titles won, it is easy to understand why the number 3 was never reassigned to the ACM again.
3. Stanley Matthews
Retirement age: 51
Matthews, the first Ballon d’Or in history (won at the age of 41!), is indeed a legend in our beautiful sport of football, which he had time to fuel for 34 seasons at highest level.
4. Alfredo Di Stefano
Retirement age: 41
The Argentine naturalized Spanish striker ended his professional career a year after his 40th birthday, when he played for Espanyol Barcelona. It is however at Real Madrid that the player wrote his legend.
The serial Real Madrid scorer is still today in the top 5 of the best scorers in the history of Real Madrid.
5. Gianluigi Buffon
Retirement age: Still active (44 years old)
The legendary Italian goalkeeper has a career as long as his record. Returning to his training club Parma, the former Bianconero is a model of longevity.
With 685 games on the clock for Juventus, the Italian is, and will probably remain for a long time, one of the most legendary goalkeepers that Italy has created.
6. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Retirement age: Still active (40 years old)
At 40, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will complete his 23rd season at the highest level. At AC Milan, the Swede still enjoys himself, and always splashes Serie A with his talent.
7. Roger Milla
Retirement age: 44
If football were a dance, Roger Milla would be its master. , the Indomitable Lion legendary was indeed a great football player.
He holds a record, and not the least: that of the oldest scorer in the history of the World Cup (42 years and 1 month).
8. Ryan Giggs
Retirement age: 40
How can we forget the flying Welshman, the player who joined Manchester United aged 14 never to leave again, the boy who scored a goal in each of his 21 Premier League seasons, the man who won 35 titles in his career (record to beat)…
9. Rivaldo
Retirement age: 43
The author of the craziest comeback in history at Camp Nou had an extremely busy career, crowned with success and ended in apotheosis.
Rivaldo indeed returned in 2015, two years after a serious knee injury, to Brazilian Division2 for a final professional match, which he played with… Rivaldo Junior, his son!
10. Romario
Retirement age: 43
When you combine performance and duration, you are inevitably part of the legend. With 743 goals in 956 official matches spend over 22 seasons (+1 freelance of a match in 2009, two years after his retirement), Romario is obviously one of the greats of world football.
11. Peter Shilton
Retirement age: 48
The player who has more than a thousand professional matches has won everything during his career. Evolving as a goalkeeper, Peter Shilton showed the voice of longevity to all these generations of goalkeepers who succeeded him.
During his spell at Nottingham Forest, he notably won two European Cups, a European Super Cup, the Premier League and the League Cup. A well-filled track record for the one who experienced his first World Cup final phase at 32 years old.
12. Gordon Strachan
Retirement age: 43
The 56-year-old Scot is the very definition of longevity all on his own. Turned pro at the age of 15 on the side of Dundee United, he indeed remained 26 years at the top, to conclude his career at more than 43 years old, in England, in Coventry.
13. Edwin Van der Sar
Retirement age: 40
The general manager of Ajax Amsterdam has enjoyed a long and successful career as a goalkeeper. Trained at Ajax, but in Manchester United that the Dutchman build his legend.
During the six seasons he spent in Manchester, he finished four times with the title of best European goalkeeper. In national team, he is the second most capped player in the history of the Oranjes, with 130 caps.
14. Dino Zoff
Retirement age: 41
The Italian goalkeeper spent half his football career with his favorite club, Juventus Turin. From 1972 to 1983, Dino Zoff played 479 games for the Bianconeri, winning the league six times, two Italian Cups and a UEFA Cup.
15. Jari Litmanen
Retirement age: 41
The Finn was the figure of an entire country during his prime. Played for Ajax, Liverpool and FC Barcelona in particular.
The Finnish phenom scored 129 goals in 226 appearances for Ajax Amsterdam Eredivisie. His greatest feat remain the Champions League won in 1995 with his colleagues from Ajax.
16. Javier Zanetti
Retirement age: 41
The Argentinians has had a monstrous career with more than 1000 official matches, in all competitions and national team included.
He stopped everything at 41 two seasons ago, after more than 22 years of playing, including 19 at Inter Milan.
17. Teddy Sheringham
Retirement age: 43
A true legend at Manchester United, the great Teddy still holds the record for the oldest man to have played in a Premier League match (40 years and 272 days).
18. Robert Pires
Retirement age: 42
The French Arsenal Gunners striker was lucky enough to be able to ply his trade for 21 great seasons. His career and his prize list speak for him, Robert Pirès remain among the French who have had the most influence abroad.
19.Roberto Carlos
Retirement age: 42
The Real Madrid legend lasted for many years, first at Fenerbahçe, then at Corinthians, before signing at Anji Makhachkala and ending his career in 2012. These experiences were not enough for him.
Three years after hanging up his boot, Roberto Carlos returns for one last season, in India, under the colors of Odisha FC. His official end of his career comes at the end of the 2015 season.
20. Maicon
Retirement age: 40
Best known for his flamboyant spell at Inter Milan from 2006 to 2012, Douglas Maicon has a long and beautiful career behind him. The player has won everything in Italy with the Nerazzurri, from the league to the Champions League, the Italian Cup and the Italian Supercup.
With the Brazil, the right side raised two Copa America. The first in 2004, and the second in 2007. He finally ended his career in an exotic club in San Marino, SP Tre Penne, based in Serravalle.