Football, as a competitive sport, is not kind to the passage of time. With the average footballer retiring at around 35 years of age, the options after this point become limited for many players. Many become managers or pundits, whilst others quit the sport altogether. However, some players defy the odds and continue to represent their teams well beyond the average career expectancy.
So, here we will take a look at the top 10 oldest active footballers in the world in 2022.
Top 10 oldest active footballers in the world in 2022
1. Joaquín | 41 years
Position: Winger
Country: Spain
Club: Real Betis
League: LaLiga
2. Fábio | 41 years
Position: Goalkeeper
Country: Brazil
Club: Fluminense
League: Série A
3. Rafael Bracali | 41 years
Position: Goalkeeper
Country: Brazil
Club: Boavista
League: Liga Portugal
4. Willy Caballero | 40 years
Position: Goalkeeper
Country: Argentina
Club: Southampton
League: Premier League
5. Diego López | 40 years
Position: Goalkeeper
Country: Spain
Club: Rayo Vallecano
League: LaLiga
6. Zlatan Ibrahimović | 40 years
Position: Striker
Country: Sweden
Club: AC Milan
League: Serie A
7. Pepe Reina | 39 years
Position: Goalkeeper
Country: Spain
Club: Villarreal
League: LaLiga
8. Fábio Quagliarella | 39 years
Position: Forward
Country: Italy
Club: Sampdoria
League: Serie A
9. Franck Ribéry | 39 years
Position: Winger
Country: France
Club: Salernitana
League: Serie A
10. Pepe | 39 years
Position: Centre Back
Country: Portugal
Club: Porto
League: Liga Portugal
There is a three-way tie between the oldest active footballers throughout the world’s biggest football leagues. Spanish winger and Betis legend Joaquín, along with Fluminense’s Fábio and Boavista’s Rafael Bracali all share the top spot, at 41 years of age.
The only English Premier League player in the top 10 is Southampton’s Argentine goalkeeper Willy Caballero, at 40 years of age. He shares this spot with footballing legend Zlatan Ibrahimović. The Swedish striker is still at the top of his game and helped lead AC Milan to their 19th Serie A title last season.
Other recognisable names make it onto the top 10, at 39 years of age: players like former Bayern Munich star Franck Ribéry and notoriously hot-headed Portuguese defender Pepe.
Three of the world’s oldest active footballers are Spanish, a nation which was ranked healthiest in the world in 2019. Perhaps it is this that allows their footballers to remain active all the way into their early 40s.
The majority of the oldest active footballers are Goalkeepers. There are many possible reasons for this position’s longevity when compared to outfield players – principally, that goalkeepers are the only players on the pitch who don’t require good pace, something that fades naturally with age.
Interesting trivia
- Brazil’s Série A is the big football league with the highest number of players over the age of 35 – an impressive 26.
- Germany’s Bundesliga is the big football league with the lowest number of players over the age of 35 – only 3.
