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The force of gravity is in place to ensure that any object that goes up definitely comes down. This law does not only apply to objects, it also affects human beings in various dimensions. Everybody, irrespective of class, status or abilities will surely experience periods of rising and falling in their respective lives.
Footballers are expected to rise, reach their peaks and start declining as they grow older. In fact, age is an obvious factor that affects even the greatest players in the history of the sport.
However, despite the fact that every player must slow down as they advance in years, football has surprised us with superstars who defied their age and produced spectacular performances this season. At ages when most of their peers have retired or faded out, they stood up, overturned the odds and surpassed expectations with their blistering displays during the campaign.
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These amazing superstars deserve recognition for their incredible brilliance this season. Therefore, let us look at 5 players who defied their age to produce excellent performances during the campaign:
#5 Arjen Robben
Bayern Munich superstar Arjen Robben is on the wrong side of 30, and celebrated his 34th birthday in January, yet his age has not affected him as many people would have expected.
Robben has reminded us of his incredible talents once again, with a lot of amazing displays for the Bundesliga outfit this season. At 34, he still does pretty much, what he was doing some years ago. Grabbing the ball, holding on to it, dribbling with flair and tearing opposition defenses apart, the winger has been really impressive.
Robben has had a great season, bagging 7 goals and 6 assists in all competitions for the German club. He also completed 31 shots, 45 dribbles, and 1043 passes. He has led the team to another domestic double and is still a regular player in the squad, with 34 appearances to his name.
(All stats via whoscored.com)
#4 Andres Iniesta
Barcelona will be grateful they had Andres Iniesta at the club this season. Despite turning 34 this year, the Spaniard was one of the stand-out performers in the Barcelona squad during the campaign.
In his last season with the club, the Barca legend ended his glorious Barca career with another fantastic outing.
The Spaniard was at the heart of the Barcelona midfield, dictating play with his passing and fantastic vision. Controlling the possession, suppressing pressure and supporting the attack, the World Cup winner ran riot in the middle of the pitch. Despite his age, Iniesta still managed to record 1941 passes, 76 dribbles as well as 4 assists during the campaign.
He also contributed massively as the Catalans won both the La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey trophy in another successful campaign.
#3 Franck Ribery
French winger, Franck Ribery is one of the liveliest wingers in Europe this season. The France international has had another stellar campaign, proving to the world that he still has a lot to offer, irrespective of his age.
The 35-year-old has been an influential figure at Bayern Munich, leading the club to another domestic double this season. Despite his age, Ribery has been a regular player in the squad this term, with 32 appearances in all competitions.
The Frenchman was a big threat to opposition defenders throughout the campaign, exerting his absolute dominance on the left flank and creating a lot of magical moments. He had 6 goals and 2 assists to his name this season as well as 28 shots, 1120 passes and 43 dribbles in both the Champions League and the Bundesliga.
His impressive performances resulted in Bayern Munich offering him another contract recently.
#2 Gianluigi Buffon
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon deserves to be celebrated for his incredible longevity in the sport. The Italian has been at a remarkable level for several years and has shown no signs of slowing down.
This season has been another highlight in the life of the legend, who celebrated his 40th birthday back in January. Buffon has gone from strength to strength since the beginning of the campaign, reproducing the type of displays that earned him recognition across Europe some years ago.
The Italian has been one of the most impressive goalkeepers in the world this season, with 66 saves to his name in the Champions League and the Seria A. He also led Juventus to another consecutive Seria A title as well as the Coppa Italia this term.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Following a slow start to the season, in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored just 4 goals in 9 appearances for Real Madrid, many people believed that the Portuguese was past his prime. Some even claimed that age had finally caught up with him.
However, the attacker has buried all thoughts of a gradual decline this season, with a lot of scintillating displays during the campaign.
Ronaldo reinstated his position as the greatest player the Champions League has witnessed, bagging 15 goals and 3 assists in 12 appearances as well as leading Los Blancos to the final of the competition for a third consecutive year. He also bagged 25 goals and 5 assists in the Spanish top flight this season.
At 33, the Portuguese is still tearing defences apart and scoring almost at will. He is still the main superstar at Real Madrid, leading the club towards another European glory. Truly, age is just a number for the incredible winger.
