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A footballer usually hits his peak between the ages of 25-29. They will be at the height of their physical abilities during that time. The strenuous and relentless nature of the professional football circuit can take its toll on the human body. It is not easy to keep up the levels beyond the age of 30.
However, owing to the renewed focus on fitness regimes, more and more players are now able to sustain their form for longer periods of time. Some of the best players in the game are above 30 years of age now.
The players on this list continue to be the focal points for their teams in the final third, despite having crossed the age where they were supposed to have hit their 'peaks'. They have been able to go shoulder-to-shoulder with players much younger than them and some of them have refused to slow down.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top five forwards over the age of 30.
#5 Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid)
Luis Suarez is one of the best strikers of his generation. He outscored Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga in the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons. Despite all his contributions, the Uruguayan international was shown the exit door by Barcelona in rather abrupt fashion in the summer of 2020.
Distraught with the way he was treated, Suarez copped a move to Barcelona's title-rivals Atletico Madrid. Under Diego Simeone, the 34-year-old went on to prove that he still has what it takes to succeed at the highest level of the game.
Suarez led from the front, scoring 21 goals and providing three assists as Atletico Madrid pipped Real Madrid and Barcelona to the La Liga title. He has lost a bit of pace but his movement and interplay with fellow attackers in the final third remains elite.
In the upcoming Copa America 2021, the striking partnership between Edinson Cavani and Suarez will be something to look forward to as the two veteran strikers have exhibited great goalscoring form this past season.
#4 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is 33-years-old but he continues to be one of the best strikers in the world. He had a great 2020-21 season which saw him earn an unlikely call-up to the French national side after a six-year absence.
Benzema's contributions were crucial to Real Madrid remaining in the race for the La Liga title until the final day of the season. He scored 30 goals and provided nine assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for Los Blancos in the recently concluded season.
He will add a lot more sharpness to France's attack in the upcoming Euros. Benzema continues to be a top centre-forward despite being 33. His movement in and around the final third, coupled with his ball-carrying skills, make him as dangerous a striker as any we can find in Europe.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Juventus had one of their worst seasons in a decade in 2020-21 under Andrea Pirlo. It was not entirely the manager's fault. Their midfielders underperformed and several players were unavailable through injury for large parts of the season. They still won the Coppa Italia and qualified for the Champions League on the last day of the season.
The 2020-21 season could have been a whole lot worse for the Bianconeri if they didn't have a certain Cristiano Ronaldo on their payroll. Ronaldo scored 36 goals and provided four assists in 44 appearances across all competitions for the Old Lady. He beat Romelu Lukaku to the Serie A Golden Boot by a margin of five goals.
Ronaldo is 36-years-old and it is incredible that he is producing such numbers given how he has dominated world football for more than a decade. He is one of the strongest weapons in Portugal's arsenal as they head into Euro 2020.
He has certainly lost a yard of pace. But Ronaldo has worked on other aspects of his game, including finishing and movement inside the box to remain among the very best in the business.
#2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Given the tough circumstances under which the 2020-21 season started for Lionel Messi, he would have been excused if he had an underwhelming season. The legendary Barcelona forward had been denied an exit from the club despite making it clear he wanted to leave.
His close friend and teammate Suarez joined title rivals Atletico Madrid and Messi was at odds with then Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
He did take a while to hit his stride. But following the turn of the year, there was just no stopping Messi. He dragged Barcelona back into the La Liga title race and led from the front in their Copa Del Rey triumph. He also won the La Liga Golden Boot.
Messi, now 33, scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for the Catalans in the 2020-21 season. Fans will be hoping that Messi can finally put an end to his trophy drought with Argentina to rest in the upcoming Copa America.
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Robert Lewandowski is justified in feeling robbed off the Ballon d'Or in 2020 as the award was canceled in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. He scored 55 goals and provided 10 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for the Bavarians in the 2019-20 season.
At the age of 32, he was able to replicate similar form this season. Lewandowski scored 48 goals and provided nine assists in 40 appearances for Bayern Munich across all competitions this term. He is inarguably the best striker in the world right now and is the recipient of the European Golden Shoe for the 2020-21 season.
The Polish international is one of the most well-rounded forwards we have seen in the modern era. He possesses all the attributes one has come to expect of a traditional number nine. Lewandowski is excellent at aerial duels, can shoot well with both feet, has pace and is excellent with the ball at his feet.
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