10 forgotten football players still playing: A 42-year-old veteran; David Luiz’s Champions League return

Do you remember icons like Santi Cazorla, Arturo Vidal, Jose Fonte, or David Luiz? These names once dominated Europe, and though they are approaching or exceeding 40, they refuse to retire. Some even compete in the Champions League today. 

You might wonder which clubs or countries they represent now. Follow this detailed report by Nowgoalpro as we rediscover 10 forgotten football players still playing across the globe.

10 forgotten football players still playing

10. Shinji Kagawa (36 years old - Cerezo Osaka, Japan) 

The Japanese playmaker was a sensation under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, where he played 216 matches and scored 60 goals over two spells. Between those stints, he moved to Manchester United in 2012, winning the Premier League in his debut season. On the international stage, Kagawa earned 97 caps for Japan, scoring 31 goals and winning the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. 

After unsuccessful spells at Real Zaragoza and PAOK, he returned to his boyhood club, Cerezo Osaka, in early 2023. This season, the 36-year-old continues to serve as a creative hub in the J1 League, helping his side maintain a competitive position in the top half of the table.

9. Radja Nainggolan (37 years old - Lokeren-Temse, Belgium)

Known as "The Ninja," Nainggolan was a powerhouse in Serie A, most notably for AS Roma, where he made 203 appearances and scored 33 goals. He later moved to Inter Milan for €38 million in 2018. 

For the Belgian national team, he was a key figure during Euro 2016, finishing his international career with 30 caps and 6 goals. After a controversial stint at Royal Antwerp and a brief period in Indonesia with Bhayangkara, he returned to Belgium to join Lokeren-Temse in late 2024. At 37, his aggressive style and long-range shooting remain a threat in the Belgian lower divisions.

8. Jose Fonte (42 years old - Casa Pia, Portugal) 

The Portuguese defender is a testament to longevity. Fonte is best remembered for his eight years at Southampton, where he played 288 games and led the club from League One to the Premier League. He was a vital part of Portugal’s Euro 2016 winning squad and the 2019 Nations League triumph, earning 50 caps in total. After five successful years at Lille, where he won Ligue 1 in 2021, he moved back to Portugal. In 2024, at age 41, he joined Casa Pia in the Primeira Liga. 

Currently, the 42-year-old captain is using his vast experience to help the club avoid relegation in one of Europe’s most technical leagues.

7. Arturo Vidal (38 years old - Colo-Colo, Chile) 

"The Warrior" built a career on grit and elite midfield play for Juventus, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Inter Milan. At Juventus, he won four consecutive Serie A titles and made 171 appearances. He is a legend for Chile, winning back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, and holds over 140 caps with 34 goals. After winning the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo, Vidal returned to his first professional club, Colo-Colo, in early 2024. 

Despite his age, he remains a fierce competitor in the Chilean Primera División, leading his team toward the top of the standings this season.

6. Lukas Podolski (40 years old - Górnik Zabrze, Poland) 

The German striker with the "hammer" left foot earned 130 caps and scored 49 goals for Germany, famously winning the 2014 World Cup. He enjoyed stellar years at FC Köln, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal, where he scored 31 goals in 82 appearances. 

Although Podolski reportedly considered retirement in October 2024, he shocked fans by continuing his journey with Górnik Zabrze in the Polish Ekstraklasa. Having joined the club in 2021 from Antalyaspor, he remains their marquee player. This season, at 40, he has appeared in most league matches, still capable of scoring the long-range screamers that made him a global star.

5. Brad Guzan (41 years old - Atlanta United, USA) 

The American goalkeeper spent nearly a decade in England, primarily with Aston Villa, where he made 171 appearances and was twice named the club's Player of the Season. For the United States, he earned 64 caps and won three CONCACAF Gold Cups. 

In 2017, he joined Atlanta United from Middlesbrough. Since then, he has won the MLS Cup and remains the undisputed starter at age 41. Facing off against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami last season, Guzan continued to produce high-level saves, keeping Atlanta in the playoff hunt while proving that goalkeepers can thrive well into their fourth decade.

4. Santi Cazorla (41 years old - Real Oviedo, Spain)

One of the most technically gifted midfielders of his generation, Cazorla was a hero at Arsenal, making 180 appearances and winning two FA Cups. A two-time European Champion with Spain (2008, 2012), he earned 81 caps and scored 15 goals. 

After a remarkable recovery from a career-threatening injury at Villarreal and a stint at Al Sadd, he returned to his boyhood club, Real Oviedo, in 2023. 

3. Vágner Love (41 years old - Avaí FC, Brazil) 

The Brazilian striker is a legend at CSKA Moscow, where he scored 124 goals in 259 games and won the UEFA Cup in 2005. He also won two Copa America titles with Brazil in 2004 and 2007. After traversing the globe through Turkey, France, and Kazakhstan, he returned to Brazil. 

In 2024, he moved from Atlético Goianiense to join Avaí FC in the Série B. At 41, Love remains a consistent goal threat in the Brazilian second tier.

2. Roque Santa Cruz (44 years old - Libertad, Paraguay) 

The Paraguayan striker is the oldest active outfield player on this list. He rose to fame at Bayern Munich, winning five Bundesliga titles and the Champions League in 2001. He later became a fan favorite at Blackburn Rovers, scoring 23 Premier League goals in a single season. 

As Paraguay’s all-time top scorer with 32 goals in 112 caps, he represented his country at three World Cups. After leaving Malaga in 2016, he returned home to Olimpia and later joined Libertad in 2022. Even at 44, he remains prolific in the Paraguayan Primera División, helping Libertad maintain their dominance in domestic football.

1. David Luiz (38 years old - Pafos, Cyprus) 

In a surprising turn of events, the flamboyant Brazilian defender has returned to European competition. David Luiz won the Champions League and Europa League with Chelsea and earned 57 caps for Brazil, winning the 2013 Confederations Cup. After three years at Flamengo, he made a high-profile move to Pafos in the Cypriot First Division in mid-2025.

 At 38, he led the Cypriot side in their historic Champions League campaign. His leadership and long-range passing have been crucial as Pafos competes against Europe's elite, currently sitting near the top of their domestic league table.

10 forgotten footballers still playing:

David Luiz (Pafos - Cyprus)

Roque Santa Cruz (Libertad - Paraguay)

Vágner Love (Avaí FC - Brazil)

Santi Cazorla (Real Oviedo - Spain)

Brad Guzan (Atlanta United - USA)

Lukas Podolski (Górnik Zabrze - Poland)

Arturo Vidal (Colo-Colo - Chile)

Jose Fonte (Casa Pia - Portugal)

Radja Nainggolan (Lokeren-Temse - Belgium)

Shinji Kagawa (Cerezo Osaka - Japan)

The team at Nowgoalpro.net has highlighted these 10 forgotten football players still playing to remind fans that passion has no expiration date. Seeing these legends continue to compete at a high level provides a unique sense of nostalgia while proving their enduring quality. 

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