{"id":610935,"date":"2022-03-15T08:25:46","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T12:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=610935"},"modified":"2026-03-15T13:51:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T17:51:56","slug":"cristiano-ronaldo-co-showing-that-30-is-the-new-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2022\/03\/15\/cristiano-ronaldo-co-showing-that-30-is-the-new-20\/","title":{"rendered":"Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski and Co. Are Showing That 30 Is the New 20"},"content":{"rendered":"

The latest instalment of the soap opera we call football 2022 had once again a seven days to rival that of Craig David with a Champions League love affair on Tuesday and Wednesday, before a chilled Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick on Saturday. Off the pitch, Chelsea<\/a> were reduced from roubles to rubble (for now at least) as a result of the sanctions imposed on their soon-to-be ex-owner Roman Abramovich.<\/p>\n

On it, matters were dominated by a series of hat-tricks. Tuesday: 33-year old Robert Lewandowski in Bayern Munich\u2019s<\/a> 7-1 demolition of RB Salzburg. Wednesday: 34-year old Karim Benzema as Real Madrid’s captain became the latest instigator of the near annual Paris Saint-Germain implosion. Saturday: 37-year old Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a>, not one to be upstaged, in Manchester United\u2019s<\/a> 3-2 win over Spurs. Perhaps the Old Trafford presence of fellow golden oldie and so-called \u201cGOAT\u201d Tom Brady acted as inspiration. Brady has now decided to reverse his retirement, coincidence?<\/p>\n

The first is now the top scorer in this season\u2019s Champions League, the second the oldest scorer of a hat-trick in the competition, and the third FIFA recognised as the greatest goal scorer of all time. All three are also at an age where in previous generations they\u2019d be either retired or winding down (give or take a Paolo Maldini<\/a>), not setting new records. When it comes to the modern game, 30 really is the new 20.<\/p>\n

Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Lewandowski and Co. Showing That 30 Is the New 20<\/h2>\n

The Over 30\u2019s Club Members<\/h3>\n

Take a look at some of the other members of the over 30\u2019s club; Luka Modri\u0107 ran the game, as well as half the pitch for Benzema\u2019s second goal, on Wednesday night. He\u2019s also close to a new deal<\/a> that\u2019ll extend his stay in Madrid past his 37th<\/sup> birthday. And he won the Ballon D\u2019Or at 33. Giorgio Chiellini<\/a> was a man possessed at the Euros 2020 as he captained Italy to success, and he\u2019ll also be at the World Cup if the Azzuri make it, at a cool 38. As will Thiago Silva<\/a>, the current Brazil captain, playing like a man 10 years younger at Chelsea. In all likelihood Dani Alves, a year his senior, will be there too.<\/p>\n

Lionel Messi may be turning 35 in June and having a down year in Paris, possibly more for emotional than physical reasons given the nature of his departure from Barcelona. But he\u2019s still the reigning Ballon D\u2019Or winner and like Ronaldo, surely we\u2019re past the stage of writing him off.<\/p>\n

Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107<\/a> is still knocking about at AC Milan and might yet win another league title this season. While Serie A is a retirement home of sorts with other old heads like Franck Rib\u00e9ry, Edin D\u017eeko and Arturo Vidal still producing the goods, it\u2019s still wildly impressive for any player to be playing past his 40th<\/sup> birthday, let alone one who suffered an ACL injury five years ago. The fact he\u2019s still calling himself a Lion at that age is probably another conversation worth having.<\/p>\n

Sauna Selfies and Sit-Ups: The Route to Everlasting Success?<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s no definite explanation as to why so many players are playing beyond the expected expiry date, but there\u2019s a multitude of possible factors, starting with the improvements in all aspects of sports science, from training and recovery to nutrition and diet.<\/p>\n

Players, if they want it enough, can get those little micro gains that make all the difference in later years. For instance, another sporting icon LeBron James allegedly spends $1 million a year on his body, and at age 37 he\u2019s leading the NBA in scoring. There\u2019s no doubt Ronaldo is doing more than just saunas selfies and Zlatan is doing more than sit ups hanging off boxing bags. These are careful, meticulous creatures of habit and dedication, willing to go the extra mile to stay on top. It\u2019s a world away from the hard living of Diego Maradona<\/a> and Paul Gascoigne, and to a lesser extent Wayne Rooney, who burned brighter than almost everyone but burned out in their early 30s. Jamie Vardy<\/a>, 35 and still razor sharp, is a slight exception here, given his skittles and vodka routine in the early stages of his career.<\/p>\n

Cristiano Ronaldo One of Many to Adapt Both Physically and Mentally<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most of these top players have also adapted their games to keep themselves relevant. Ronaldo\u2019s career has seen him evolve from a flying winger to a predatory penalty box player, enabling him to conserve energy for when he needs it most.<\/p>\n

Other\u2019s games were never based around pace and power, such as Benzema and Lewandowski, both of whom are at the absolute peak of their powers right now. Neither would ever have been considered lightning quick or a powerhouse forward, instead relying on technique, movement and general footballing IQ. They know where to go, when to go and that\u2019s only developed over the years. A mental game as much as a physical. Watch Benzema and you\u2019ll see a striker whose every touch has meaning.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for the Benjamin Button Footballers?<\/h3>\n

Could the change in supposed peaks and career lengths lead to a reconsideration to the shorter term contract policy for players over 30 employed by many clubs? Could it lead to see more players joining Zlatan in the over 40\u2019s category? Erling Haaland<\/a> is probably the best bet, given he may be part cyborg.<\/p>\n

In the shorter term, in the build-up to tonight\u2019s second leg clash, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid\u2019s second-leg tie will centre around two questions; can a 35-year old Luis Suarez<\/a> come back to haunt United once again? Or will it be the 37-year old Ronaldo writing another chapter in his Champions League story? These questions wouldn\u2019t have been asked a decade ago. There\u2019s more life in the old dogs yet.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>