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The peak age for a footballer is supposed to be 24-28. However, these forwards have time and again shown that age is just a number. All the forwards on this list are above 30 and have scored (and are still scoring) a bucketload of goals for both club and country.
Most of these players on this list are focal points for their attack and are the undoubted stars of the team. The way these players are going, they look all set to go on and dominate world football for years to come.
Without much ado, let us take a look at the 5 best forwards above the age of 30:
Note: Players who turned 30 in 2017 have not been included
#5 Carlos Tevez (32)
Argentine footballer Carlos Tevez just won the lottery when he made an extremely lucrative move to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua. A technical, tactically intelligent and creative player with an eye for scoring important goals, Tevez is capable of playing in multiple positions across the forward line although he mainly plays as a striker or support striker.
Lauded for his pace, tactical nous and work rate when his team loses possession, Tevez is a manager’s dream and has been successful for multiple teams in various top teams around the world.
Before making a high-profile move to China, Tevez was banging in the goals for his childhood club Boca Juniors even scoring 2 goals in the SuperClasico against arch-rivals River Plate as recently as December 11th.
Arguably the most high-profile player in the uber rich Chinese Super League, Tevez looks all set to continue his goalscoring ways with his new club Shanghai Shenhua.
#4 Olivier Giroud (30)
Olivier Giroud polarises opinions, but there is no denying the fact that the Frenchman is very very effective in front of goal. While doubts have been cast on his ability to lead Arsenal to a Premier League title, his goalscoring numbers have been very impressive.
This season alone, Giroud has scored 7 goals in just 15 Premier League appearances and has popped up time and again at crucial intervals to keep Arsenal in the title race. The Frenchman also combines superbly with both Sanchez and Ozil and it will be interesting to see how Wenger uses him in the remainder of this season.
Known for his size, strength on the ball and link up play, Giroud gives another option to Arsenal as he is also an excellent header of the ball. His front post runs to put off defenders have proved to be extremely crucial in the past, and Wenger will be hoping that the handsome Frenchman keeps up his impressive scoring record.
#3 Aritz Aduriz (35)
Aritz Aduriz is 35 years old now, and at an age where most footballers think about hanging up their boots, Aduriz is playing the best football of his career. Aduriz has played the majority of his career at Athletic Bilbao although he has played for a number of Spanish clubs such as Valladolid, Mallorca and Valencia.
After breaking into the first team of Bilbao at the age of 19, Aduriz had a decent spell at Valladolid. After 3 years there, he returned to Atheltic Bilbao, but failed to make much of an impression due to the emergence of Fernando Llorente.
He moved on from Athletic to Mallorca where he put in some solid performances without being too spectacular. He had a good time at Mallorca and a decent first season at Valencia which gave him his first international cap for Spain.
However, after an indifferent second season at Valencia, Aduriz came back to his childhood club Bilbao where he has been amazingly consistent, scoring important goals at crucial times. This season Aduriz has been in stunning form and is the third highest scoring Spaniard in La Liga (after Iago Aspas and Ruben Castro)
His good form has seen him become an important part of the Spain national squad and Bilbao and Spain fans will be hoping that the veteran striker keeps going strong for many more seasons.
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (35)
Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a high-profile move to Manchester United this summer and he has shown why he was so coveted by Jose Mourinho by continuing to do what he does best at Old Trafford.
The enigmatic Swedish striker has been banging in the goals for the Red Devils and has already found the back of the net an incredible 19 times. When Zlatan made the move to the Premier League, many people had questioned whether he was past his peak. To put in Zlatan’s own words, he has made “critics eat their balls”
Speaking to reporters, Ibrahimovic said:
“I had a fantastic year, I am not complaining. I came to United, my first six months here has been more than amazing. I am super happy and let’s hope we can continue the ride and keep going. I feel good. I don’t know how many years I have left but I am enjoying the football. I came to the Premier League and everyone thought it would not be possible but like always I make them eat their balls.”
Jose Mourinho will be hoping that the powerful Swede guides Manchester United to the upper echelons of the Premier League table.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (31)
One of the two stand out footballers of this generation along with Lionel Messi, Ronaldo is one of the greatest players ever to play the beautiful game. Ronaldo’s goal scoring exploits have been mind boggling considering the fact that he plays is a number of positions across the forward line such as striker/winger and even a supporting striker on some occasions.
The Portuguese superstar first captured the world’s attention at Manchester United, putting in some stunning performances, leaving defenders flat-footed with his dazzling skills. After his move to Real Madrid, Ronaldo took his game to a whole new level becoming one of the best goalscorers ever to play the game.
Having a burning desire to be the best, Ronaldo has worked hard to hone his undoubtedly prodigious talent. Ronaldo is capable of scoring all types of goals be it stunning long-range efforts, free kicks, simple tap-ins or even powerful headers.
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly the best forward above the age of 30.
