Messi’s Extended Career Reflects Trend of Later Retirement in Football
Lionel Messi, written off as playing his last World Cup in 2018, continued at age 39, highlighting a broader trend where elite footballers retire later than expected.
After Argentina lost to France in the 2018 World Cup Round of 16, commentators predicted Lionel Messi, then 31, had played his final World Cup match. But Messi returned in 2022 to win the trophy and again in 2026 at age 39. He is not alone: Cristiano Ronaldo (41) announced this World Cup would be his last after Portugal’s exit, while Neymar (34), Manuel Neuer (40), and Guillermo Ochoa (41) have also retired or stepped away from international or professional football. Ochoa became the first goalkeeper to make six World Cup squads.
The Aging Trend in Football
Research shows elite players are getting older. A 2019 study in Frontiers of Psychology tracking nearly 30 UEFA Champions League seasons found average age rose from 24.9 in 1992–93 to 26.5 in 2017–18. The 2026 World Cup featured eight players in their forties—more than all previous editions combined. Meanwhile, teenage stars like Lamine Yamal and Endrick also emerge, meaning teams blend youth and experience.
Sports Science and Individualized Training
Sports science hasn’t changed aging biology but how clubs respond. Coaches now tailor workloads per player, considering injury history, recovery, and capacity. Messi walks 63% of his movement on the pitch to conserve energy. GPS trackers measure sprints, accelerations, and distance; heart-rate monitoring detects fatigue. Recovery follows the “4Rs”: rehydrate, refuel, repair, rest. Ronaldo uses cryotherapy and a personal team of physiotherapists to extend his career.
Experience as an Advantage
While footballers peak in their mid- to late twenties, they lose explosive speed and stamina with age. However, central defenders and midfielders become more accurate passers, compensating with positioning and decision-making. A study of retired Portuguese players (1960–2018) found average retirement age at 32.7 years, but for stars like Messi and Ronaldo, career extension is also driven by clubs, sponsors, and broadcasters who benefit from keeping big names on the pitch.
