Well, with billions of hardcore fans from around the world and a star-studded lineup of prominent players, football has undoubtedly evolved as one of the most popular sports in the world in the past few decades and continues to attract an enormous viewership from all across the globe. From blood-curdling rivalries to high-octane action on the field, the glorious history of football that spans over decades has witnessed numerous prominent football players, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini and many others dominating the opponent teams with their fearless attacking style of play. The decades-long history of the game has also witnessed numerous legendary football players who have defied the odds of age and have continued to play the game professionally ever after crossing forty years of age.
In this article we will take a look at the top four iconic football players who announced their retirement after turning forty.
Top 4 Football Players Who Retired After 40
Paolo Maldini – 41 Years
Often popularly hailed as one of the greatest defenders of all time, the Italian football executive and former professional footballer Paolo Maldini is at the first spot in our list of the top four legendary football players who carried on with their dominant exploits on the field for decades and retired after turning forty. Throughout his glorious professional football club career with AC Milan, Paolo Maldini clinched seven Serie A titles, five UEFA Champions League titles, five European Super Cup, five Supercoppa Italiana titles, two Intercontinental Cups and the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup.
Additionally, Paolo Maldini also witnessed an extremely successful international football career, playing for Italy and ending up as the 1994 FIFA World Cup Runner-up and also secured third place at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. After witnessing an extremely dominant career that spanned over twenty-five long years, Paolo Maldini announced his official retirement from the game in 2009 at the age of 41.
Ryan Giggs – 41 Years
At the second spot in our list of the top four iconic football players who announced their retirement after turning forty, we have the Welsh football coach, former player and co-owner of Salford City, Ryan Giggs, who is still often hailed as one of the greatest wingers of his generation. Ryan Giggs spent his entire professional football career at Manchester United and established himself as one of only 51 footballers to have made over 1,000 career appearances, speaking volumes about the rich legacy that he has left behind.
As one of the most successful club players in the history of football, Ryan Giggs clinched numerous prestigious titles with Manchester United, including thirteen Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, nine FA Community Shields, two UEFA Champions League Titles and the 2008 FIFA World Cup. Owing to his dominating exploits on the field, Ryan Giggs was honoured with the prestigious Golden Foot Legend Award in 2011 and the FWA Tribute Award in 2007.
After spending an illustrious career with Manchester United that spanned over twenty-four years, Ryan Giggs announced his official retirement from the game at the age of 41 after the 2013-14 season and was immediately appointed as the assistant manager to Louis van Gaal at Manchester United.
Francesco Totti – 40 Years, 8 Months
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four legendary football players who carried on with their dominant exploits on the field for decades and retired after turning forty, we have the legendary Italian former professional footballer Francesco Totti, who played solely for Roma and the Italian national team throughout his professional football career that lasted for 1993 to 2006.
Often popularly referred to as “Il Capitano” in the world of football, Francesco Totti was a part of Italy’s title-winning squad at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Totti was honoured as the Serie A Footballer of the Year twice, in 2000 and 2003. Additionally, the Italian football sensation also received the prestigious European Golden Shoe award in 2007 and was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Totti concluded his professional football career at the age of 41 years and eight months as the second-highest goalscorer in Serie A history with a phenomenal total of 250 goals.
Javier Zanetti – 40 Years, 9 Months
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four iconic football players who announced their retirement after turning forty, we have the Argentine former professional footballer, Javier Zanetti, who is often hailed as one of the greatest right-backs of all time.
Javier spent his entire career at Inter Milan and clinched a total of five Serie A titles (2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10), four Coppa Italia titles (2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11), four Supercoppa Italiana (2005, 2006, 2098, 2010), the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League and the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup.
Owing to his glorious professional football career with Inter Milan and Argentina, Javier was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and also received the prestigious Golden Foot Legend Award in 2022. The Argentine star footballer Javier Zanetti announced his official retirement at the age of 40 years and 9 months.
