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It wasn't long ago that footballers were thought to have moved past their prime by the time they hit 30. There have been exceptions to the rule but a footballer's peak years were usually considered to be between the ages of 25 and 30.
Thanks to a renewed focus on fitness regimes and improved analytical technology, footballers can now optimize their physical condition based on information. The results are there for everyone to see. The majority of the players in the Ballon d'Or race this term are over the age of 30.
Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are 36 and 34 respectively but continue to be two of the best footballers on the planet. But there are plenty of world-class players under the age of 30 as well.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best footballers under the age of 30.
#5 Jorginho - Italy/Chelsea
Jorginho has had a wonderful summer. He's basked in the sun and proved to the world that he is one of the best midfielders in the business. Built unlike most Premier League holding midfielders, Jorginho makes up for his lack of physicality with his refined technical brilliance.
He was a driving force from midfield as Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League title and the UEFA Super Cup. Jorginho has been chosen as the UEFA Men's Player of the Year and for good reason.
The 29-year-old also won Euro 2020 with Italy. Jorginho made the most number of interceptions made at a European Championship since 1980, with 25. He is excellent at dispensing his defensive duties and is an exceptional distributor of the ball.
It has also been Jorginho's summer and it just needed coaches like Thomas Tuchel and Roberto Mancini to extract the best out of him.
#4 Mohamed Salah - Egypt/Liverpool
Mohamed Salah has been one of the best Premier League signings of the last decade. He joined Liverpool in 2017 and had a sensational debut campaign, netting 32 goals in 36 Premier League appearances. In doing so, he broke the record for most goals scored in a 38-game Premier League season.
Salah continued to be brilliant for Liverpool and played a crucial role as the Merseysiders won the Champions League in the 2018-19 season. The Egyptian was a standout performer for Jurgen Klopp's men in the 2019-20 season when they won the Premier League title.
Salah finished the 2020-21 season with 31 goals and six assists from 51 appearances across all competitions. He has also kickstarted the 2021-22 Premier League season on a promising note, scoring two goals and providing two assists in three appearances.
Salah is as entertaining and exciting a winger as any. His quick feet, movement and ability to get some wonderful shots away from inside tight spaces make him a huge threat inside the final third.
#3 Neymar - Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain
Neymar is arguably the most entertaining footballer on the planet at present. The Brazilian's style of play is reflective of his street smarts and it also quite accurately represents the joy of playing the beautiful game.
The 29-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent seasons but whenever he's fit, he has put his quality on display. He has been a central figure in Paris Saint-Germain's runs to the finals and the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons respectively.
Neymar was also Brazil's best player in their run to the final of the 2021 Copa America as well. He scored two goals and provided three assists in six appearances in the continental competition. In the 2020-21 season, Neymar scored 17 goals and 11 assists in 31 appearances across all competitions.
Neymar has been reunited with his former teammate Lionel Messi this season and the world is waiting for the duo to hit their stride once again.
#2 Harry Kane - England/Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world right now. He also possesses wonderful playmaking ability and won both the Premier League Golden Boot and the Playmaker's Award in the 2020-21 season. He scored 23 goals and provided 14 assists for Spurs in 35 Premier League appearances last term.
Kane played a big hand in England's journey to the Euro 2020 final as well. He scored four goals in seven appearances for the Three Lions in the continental competition. He is a technically well-rounded player and is always willing to give his all for his team on the pitch.
Kane also showcases good leadership qualities and it's quite unfortunate that he hasn't really won any major silverware in his career yet.
#1 Erling Haaland - Norway/Borussia Dortmund and Kylian Mbappe - France/Paris Saint-Germain
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are viewed as successors to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But the fact of the matter is that both Haaland and Mbappe are already clocking unreal numbers at a very young age.
Haaland turned 21 this summer and Mbappe is still just 22. Both players are phenomenal forwards who are extremely prolific goalscorers. In the 2020-21 season, Mbappe scored 42 goals and provided 11 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for Paris Saint-Germain.
Haaland scored 41 goals and provided 12 assists 41 appearances for Borussia Dortmund last term. Both players have kickstarted the 2021-22 season on a promising note. While Mbappe has scored three goals and provided two assists in four appearances so far, Haaland has scored six goals and provided three assists in five.
While Mbappe's blistering pace and trickery makes him a nightmare to defend against, Haaland stands out thanks to his physicality and incredible finishing. Both players have shown a lot of technical finesse and they just seem to be getting better and better with each passing season.
