Whenever a player hits the age of 30, he is considered to be headed towards the end of their career, unless it is a goalkeeper.
Outfield players are at a disadvantage when they get to this age because even when negotiating for contracts, they don’t have much power. Their market value declines rapidly and not many clubs are willing to offer them more than a year.
Some of the players who have continued to shape football discussion even after hitting 30+ are the two most consistent players of our times – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The two made moves in the summer and were the highlight for the better part of the post-transfer period, not to mention, they are deep into their 30s.
However, there are a number of top players who have reached 30 and beyond, but can still rattle the transfer market, were they to make moves. Players who have been in the game for a while, but can still commend transfer fees of upwards of €30m. Here we assess some of them:
Robert Lewandowski: the Bayern Munich man has rightly earned the nickname ‘Goal Machine’. At 33 years old, the Polish international is still doing it as he did in his early 20s. Last season was his best season in domestic action after he scored 41 league goals for Bayern.
In his last 11 seasons, he’s failed to score 20+ in just one season; this season he is already on 20 goals. Lewandowski has nine league titles.
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Kevin De Bruyne: At 30, the Manchester City midfielder is still considered one of the best creative players in the game. He was a Ballon d’Or nominee, deservedly, coming after being named Europe’s second-best player in 2021. He provided 12 assists in the league last season and helped City get to the final of the Champions League last season, he would get injured in the final as Chelsea went on to win. The Belgian international has already won three league titles.
Virgil van Dijk: The most expensive players are not just attackers; Van Dijk is a defender that can fetch a huge transfer fee should a club go for him. He joined Liverpool at the cost of £75m and at 30 years old, Transfer Market values him at €55m. He was named the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in 2019 and after spending most of last season out, he returned to continue from where he left. A great reader of the game, very composed and tough to dribble past, Van Dijk makes for one of the top players in the world currently.
N’Golo Kante: The French international is one of the best in his position currently. His height doesn’t match most of the top defensive midfielders around but his work rate is extraordinary. At 30 years, Kante has already won the World Cup, Champions League, Europa League and the Premier League titles. He is great on and off the ball and his performance in 2021 saw him named the UEFA Midfielder of the Year in 2021. Despite his advanced age, Kante is valued at €50m.
Dipo Olowookere