Who is the oldest active professional soccer player? Top 10 ageless stars still on the pitch

For most professional players, the typical playing age ranges from around 18 to 35. For many stars, this can be extended to about 40 or even older. Today, however, there are players who continue their careers well beyond 40, reaching remarkable milestones such as 50, or even playing into their 60s. In this article, nowgoalpro.net compile a list of the 10 oldest active professional soccer player to have competed professionally.

Top 10 oldest professional soccer players

10. Luka Modrić (Croatia) - 40 years old - AC Milan (Italy)

A football legend, Luka Modrić is still performing at a high level at the age of 40 with AC Milan. After leaving Real Madrid following more than 10 years at the club, Modrić chose not to move to a lower-level league and instead remained in Europe. He quickly became one of AC Milan’s most important players, featuring in 21 of the team’s first 23 matches of the season and contributing significantly to their push for second place in the league standings.

9. Lukas Podolski (Germany) - 40 years old - Górnik Zabrze (Poland)

Lukas Podolski remains active at the age of 40, playing in the Polish top division. During his career, he represented several major clubs, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Inter Milan. Podolski was part of the German squad that won the 2014 World Cup and earned 130 caps for the national team, scoring 49 goals.

8. Thiago Silva (Brazil) - 41 years old - Porto (Portugal)

After returning to Brazil to play for Fluminense, Thiago Silva appeared to be nearing retirement. However, he surprised many by announcing his return to Europe to join Porto at the age of 41. Widely regarded as one of football’s late bloomers, Silva faced early career difficulties in Brazil before moving to Europe and joining AC Milan. He later enjoyed long spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, winning the Champions League in his first season with the English club.

7. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 41 years old - Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia)

Despite turning 41, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to show remarkable physical condition and remains among the top scorers in the Saudi Pro League. After leaving European football in 2023, he has continued to attract global attention. Ronaldo is aiming to compete at the 2026 World Cup, which could be the final tournament of his career. At club level, he shows no sign of stopping after recently extending his contract with Al Nassr.

6. Dante (Brazil) - 42 years old - OGC Nice (France)

Now 43, Dante continues to play regularly for Nice in Ligue 1. His professional career began in 2002 with Juventude in Brazil before he moved to Europe in 2004 to join Lille. Since then, he has played for several clubs in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga. Having joined Nice in 2016, Dante remains a key figure in defense and was part of the team that reached the Coupe de France final in the 2021–22 season.

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

One of the few strikers on this list, Roque Santa Cruz currently plays in Paraguay. Earlier in his career, he represented major clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Málaga before returning to South America. His most notable achievement was winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich in the 2000–01 season, although he played a limited role during the campaign.

4. Fábio (Brazil) - 45 years old - Fluminense (Brazil)

Having spent most of his career in Brazil, Fábio remains the first-choice goalkeeper for Fluminense. He began his professional career in 1997 and has played nearly 30 seasons, most notably with Cruzeiro, where he made close to 800 appearances. He recently set a record for the most appearances in professional football history, with more than 1,400 matches played.

3. Kazuyoshi Miura (Japan) - 58 years old - Fukushima United (Japan)

Known as “King Kazu,” Kazuyoshi Miura continues to compete at the age of 58. He began his career in Brazil and has played for numerous clubs across Asia and the Americas. He currently represents Fukushima United in the J3 League, the third tier of Japanese football. In 2012, at the age of 45, he also played futsal and was selected for the Japanese national futsal team. His career spans several decades, from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

2. Robert Carmona (Uruguay) - 63 years old - Liffa Club (Uruguay)

Robert Carmona is widely recognized as the oldest player still active in professional football. At 63, he continues to seek opportunities to extend his career into a 50th consecutive season. He began playing professionally in 1976 at the age of 14 and has represented more than 30 clubs, appearing in over 2,200 matches across Uruguay, the United States, Canada, and Spain. His most recent club was Liffa Club in Uruguay’s fourth division.

1. Ezzeldin Bahader (Egypt) - 79 years old

The oldest recorded professional footballer is Ezzeldin Bahader of Egypt. In 2020, he set a Guinness World Record as the oldest professional footballer after completing two full matches for 6th October in the Egyptian Third Division at the age of 74. To achieve this milestone, he followed a strict training program to regain fitness despite long-term knee problems. Although he no longer plays, his story remains a strong source of inspiration for football fans of all ages.

In this article, NowGoal Pro explored the oldest active professional soccer player. We hope this overview has given readers a clearer understanding of longevity at the highest level of the game. For more football predictions and interesting facts, please here.