These five forty-somethings who continue to shine at the highest level

Ronaldo, Modrić, Thiago Silva, Neuer and Džeko still going strong

World Today at 05:01

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These five forty-somethings who continue to shine at the highest level

They are 40 years old or more, yet they keep gracing the pitch with undiminished ambition. From Cristiano Ronaldo to Edin Džeko, including Luka Modrić, Thiago Silva, and Manuel Neuer, these veterans remain decisive for their clubs.

Cristiano Ronaldo, still unstoppable. At 41, the Portuguese superstar remains the most spectacular example of longevity. With Al-Nassr, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner kicked off his 2026-2027 season with a goal in a 4-0 win against Al-Riyadh. It was his first goal of the season and the 977th of his career.

His illustrious European career with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus explains why he remains the standard-bearer for his generation. His goal-scoring pace, even after four decades, continues to defy the norm.

Modrić remains a master of time

Luka Modrić, now 40, is also extending his adventure at the top level. For his Serie A debut with AC Milan, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner started on the bench before coming on in the 57th minute during a 2-1 win over Torino. His arrival on the pitch coincided with Milan's two goals.

The Croatian is coming off a very solid first season in Milan: 32 matches and 2,713 minutes played in 2025-2026, with an average rating of 7.54 according to Sofascore.

Thiago Silva, defending is second nature

At 41, Thiago Silva continues to defend with the same discipline that defined his years at AC Milan, PSG, and Chelsea. Back at Fluminense, the Brazilian played another full 90 minutes against Independiente Rivadavia in the Copa Libertadores on August 18, earning a 7.2 rating from FotMob.

A few days later, he played another 90 minutes in a 2-1 win over Remo in the Brazilian league.

At 41, THIAGO SILVA 🇧🇷 STILL DEFENDS LIKE A BOSS. 🥵💪

🎥 @FluminenseFC pic.twitter.com/h4keTnxTpB
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) August 25, 2026

Neuer and Džeko refuse to slow down

Manuel Neuer, 40, continues to guard the net for Bayern Munich. The legendary German goalkeeper recently won the 2026 German Supercup, his eighth trophy in the competition. This victory also brought his career total to 36 trophies.

Finally, Edin Džeko keeps on surprising. The Bosnian, also 40, made headlines with Schalke 04 in the German Cup, scoring twice and assisting two more in a 5-2 extra-time win against Hallescher FC.

Edin Džeko again, to finish things off. https://t.co/6aptDSQw5D pic.twitter.com/zlTIq0xkWf
— saric (@zoviadvokata) August 24, 2026

These five players prove that even after turning 40, experience can still make the difference. They are no longer just survivors at the top level—they remain key players in the game.