10 greatest late bloomers in football history

#4 Dado Prso

Dado Prso

Another football fairytale, Dado Prso, was a mechanic and a part-time footballer in his early 20s.

He was a third-tier player at the age of 23. Three years later, the Croatian was a French league-winner with Monaco after their coach Jean Tigana spotted him. Unbelievable, but sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

It only got better for Prso as he would play and score in the Champions League at the age of 30 and also make his international debut for Croatia at 29.

#3 Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba

The Chelsea legend wanted to become an accountant at 20, with injuries having severely hampered his football aspirations. But sometimes true talent cannot be stopped.

Didier Drogba really burst on to the scene at Guingamp at the age of 24 before making a name at Marseille. But when Jose Mourinho brought him to Chelsea at 26, detractors didn't give the player much of a chance.

Already fifteen years ago they said you were crazy to sign me, you just answered:“ Judge him when he leaves the club”The rest is history Thank you @chelseafc thank you Mr Abramovitch, thank you José, thank you @premierleague and all the players I shared the badge with 💙 pic.twitter.com/rKNf0sUWHT

— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) July 20, 2019

However, Droga proved eveyone wrong, winning four Premier League titles and playing an instrumental role in Chelsea winning the Champions League while becoming the club's fourth-highest goal-scorer.

#2 Luca Toni

Luca Toni

Luca Toni is arguably one of the greatest-ever late bloomers in football history. The Italian was a journeyman in the lower echelons of the Italian game and played in the Serie A at the age of 23 before going down to Serie B. Toni turned things around after turning 26, finally getting into his groove as a striker with Palermo.

He continued his upward trajectory at Fiorentina where he scored 31 goals in his first season. He then joined Bayern Munich at the age of 30 and seemed to up his level. He kept on being a prolific goal-scorer well into his 30s after his return to Italy.

Toni won the FIFA World Cup with Italy in 2006.

Luca Toni's 2014/15 Serie A season:❍ 38 games❍ 22 goalsAt the age of 38 years & 5 days, he is the oldest Golden Boot winner in Europe’s top five leagues since 2001.

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 28, 2020

#1 Jamie Vardy

Jamie Vardy

Jamie Vardy's story is remarkable because of the rarity of such an occurrence in the cut-throat world of contemporary football. The striker was still a non-league player at 25 when Leicester City signed him, and an incredible ascent began.

As Leicester went from a Championship side to the most improbable champions of England ever, Vardy became one of the best strikers of England and in England. At 33, Vardy is still at Leicester and still scoring goals at will.

It's a story that may not be repeated again in football history.