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Football fans should consider themselves truly blessed to have seen some of the best ever talents of the game on display over the past few years. While some of the greats of the modern era have already bid goodbye to their respective clubs, there are still a host of footballers who have exceeded expectations in terms of longevity.
Footballers generally tend to peak towards the end of their 20s and historically, end up retiring before the age of 35. Few players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have defied all odds and kept their ridiculously high standards intact even past the age of 34.
Let's take a look at five world-class footballers who could retire in 2022.
#5. Gianluigi Buffon - Parma
Gianluigi Buffon has been an everpresent face on the world football scene for over 20 years now.
Having made his professional debut in 1995 with Parma, Buffon has been a regular A-lister for 26 long years. The 43-year-old previously represented Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain before returning to Parma earlier this year.
Famed for his spell in Turin, Buffon spent 17 years with Juventus before moving to Paris in 2019. Buffon has won an unbelievable 10 Serie A titles, as well as five Coppa Italia titles. Buffon also won Ligue 1 in France during his one-year stint with PSG.
Buffon has also represented Italy since 1997, making 178 appearances in total for the Azzurri. His most memorable moment with the national team will certainly be the FIFA World Cup victory in 2006.
Now 43 years old, it's fair to say that Buffon has enjoyed a long and successful career. As Buffon turns 44 in January, there is a high likelihood that he will call it quits in 2022.
#4. Luka Modric - Real Madrid
Luka Modric is definitely one of the best midfielders of his generation.
The Croatian made his debut with Dinamo Zagreb in 2003, before signing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. Modric made his name with Spurs, impressing consistently with his incredible performances.
His prowess earned him a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2012. In the nine years since, Modric has gone on to redefine success. The 36-year-old has won two La Liga titles and three Supercopa de Espana trophies, as well as an unbelievable four UEFA Champions League titles.
Modric has been an integral figure of the Croatian national team as well. He led Croatia to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, although they did lose in the final to tournament winners France. His efforts earned him the 2018 Ballon d'Or award, becoming the first midfielder to win it in over 12 years.
Having turned 36 earlier this month, there is increasing speculation that Modric has reached the end of his career. With his contract running out in 2022, it seems very likely that Modric will bring to an end an incredible career.
#3. Thiago Silva - Chelsea
Thiago Silva is another player who many expect to retire in the near future.
Silva is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation. Having made his name in Italy with AC Milan, Silva's big break came after signing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2012.
The Brazilian defender spent eight years with the French outfit, winning Ligue 1 seven times and the League Cup five times. Having also won the Coupe de France an incredible five times, it's fair to say that Silva enjoyed a very successful period in France.
Silva signed for Chelsea last year in a move that many regarded as purely one last hurrah before retirement. He went on to prove his critics wrong almost instantly, galvanizing Chelsea's defense into a world-class setup.
Under Thomas Tuchel, Silva has become one of the most important players in the defensive line. His impact at Chelsea was evident as they went on to win the UEFA Champions League in his debut season with the club.
Although Silva is still performing at an elite level, it is clearly evident that his age has caught up with him. Incapable of playing all the games like he did in his youth, he is now used strategically by Tuchel in important games that require his experience and skill.
Having signed his contract until 2022, it's likely that Silva will retire at Chelsea. He will be hoping for another successful season to top off a magnificent career.
#2. Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus
Giorgio Chiellini has been one of Juventus' longest-serving players in the modern era.
Having made his debut with Livorno, Chiellini spent two years with Roma before ultimately signing for Juventus in 2004. Since then, he has gone on to spend 17 years with the Italian giants, making over 400 league appearances.
Chiellini is widely regarded as an old-school, no-nonsense defender. He is also a serial winner and boasts a serious collection of trophies.
Having won Serie A nine times with Juventus, Chiellini will certainly go down in history as a club legend. He has been largely impressive with the Italian national team as well, even winning the recent UEFA Euro 2020 competition as captain.
The 37-year-old has certainly had a marvelous career and it looks very likely that he will hang up his boots in 2022.
#1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - AC Milan
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most famous footballers of the modern game.
The Swede made his debut with Malmo in 1999 and has since gone on to represent several clubs in various different countries. Considered by many as a journeyman, Ibrahimovic has played for nine different clubs in 22 years and has achieved success in almost all of them.
He is most renowned for his stints with Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan where he achieved a great degree of success. Zlatan has made over 700 professional appearances, netting over 500 career goals in the process.
Regarded by many as one of the best strikers of his generation, Zlatan possesses natural attacking ability that is matched by few. Famed for his eye for goal and his unorthodox attacking style, Zlatan has built a reputation for being unbelievably difficult to defend against.
His trophy cabinet is a sight to behold. Zlatan has won league titles in Netherlands, Spain, France and Italy, even winning it with both Milan teams. He has also won the Golden Boot with Paris Saint-Germain three times.
Zlatan is the only player in history to play in the UEFA Champions League for a ridiculous seven different teams despite never winning the competition. He is also one of three players, along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, to have reached double figures for league goals in Europe’s top five leagues in eleven consecutive seasons.
There is no doubt that Zlatan will go down in history as one of the most exciting players to ever play the game. Struggling with injuries, Zlatan turns 40 next month. It is very likely that Zlatan will finally hang up his boots and move on to the next phase of his life.
Also Check Out: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Net Worth
