Everyone reaches their physical peak in their mid-20s, and this is true for athletes too. Being a professional athlete also puts a lot of strain on the body, which is why most people retire young.
There are many examples of elite athletes playing at the highest level until the age of 40 and beyond. From soccer stars to basketball greats, these sporting legends have had long careers.
Do you want to know who else has been in professional sport for such an exceptionally long time? Click through the gallery!
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Top athletes over 40? These athletes show that it is possible
Everyone reaches their physical peak in their mid-20s, and this is true for athletes too. Being a professional athlete also puts a lot of strain on the body, which is why most people retire young.
There are many examples of elite athletes playing at the highest level until the age of 40 and beyond. From soccer stars to basketball greats, these sporting legends have had long careers.
Do you want to know who else has been in professional sport for such an exceptionally long time? Click through the gallery!
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Roger Federer
Roger Federer was one of the best tennis players in the world even in his early 40s. However, on September 15, 2022, the 20-time Grand Slam champion announced his retirement. “I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1,500 matches in 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I could have ever imagined and now I have to recognize when it is time to end my competitive career.” Federer continues to play tennis but no longer participates in Grand Slam tournaments or professional tours. Federer was number one in the world for five years and is considered the founder of a golden age in men’s tennis, rivaling other modern legends such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
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Tom Brady
Tom Brady is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time. With seven Super Bowl rings, he has cemented this status year after year. On February 1, 2023, he announced his permanent retirement after returning to the field for one more season after his initial announcement in 2021.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimović is considered one of the greatest strikers of all time. The Swedish football star has won over 30 trophies and scored well over 550 goals since his debut until he retired in 2023 at the age of 41.
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Venus Williams
Superstar tennis player Venus Williams has been active since 1994 and has won seven Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals. And she’s not thinking about stopping yet!
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Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon is considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time and is one of the few players to have made more than 1,100 appearances in their career. For the majority of his almost three-decade-long professional career, Buffon was under contract with Juventus Turin – with the record champions he won the Serie A title ten times and was in the Champions League final three times. In 2006 he won the World Cup with his country. From 2021 to 2023 he played for Parma Calcio, where he began his career in the first team in 1995.
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Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods turned professional at the age of 20 and has since then – despite some setbacks and serious injuries – been one of the best golfers and highest-earning athletes.
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Jaromir Jagr
With over 2,000 professional games, Jaromír Jágr has had one of the longest careers in professional hockey history. He was considered one of the best while playing for nine NHL teams and later returned to his native Czech Republic to play for HC Kladno, where he began his career. He is also the owner of the team!
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Phil Mickelson
Golfer Phil Mickelson, nicknamed “Lefty,” has won 45 events on the PGA Tour, including six majors. He is now in his 50s and still active.
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Kazuyoshi Miura
The Japanese football star, often known simply as Kazu, has the longest professional career in the world and, at 56, is the oldest professional footballer in the world.
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Vince Carter
Eight-time All-Star Vince Carter made his NBA debut in 1999 and retired in 2020 at the age of 43 and after a record-breaking 22 seasons.
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Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige was officially called up to the Major Leagues at the age of 42. He had previously played for the Negro Leagues before racial segregation in professional baseball was abolished.
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Dara Torres
At the age of 41, Dara Torres took home three silver medals from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Her Olympic career spanned 24 years, from 1984 to 2008.
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George Foreman
At the age of 45, George Foreman regained the heavyweight title by winning a fight against Michael Moorer, making him the oldest fighter to ever win the world heavyweight championship.
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Brett Favre
After retiring from the NFL twice, Brett Favre returned to the league in 2009, the same year he turned 40. He led the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC Championship Game before retiring for good in 2010.
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Kareem Abdul Jabbar
During his 20 seasons in the NBA with the Bucks and the Lakers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named an NBA All-Star 19 times. He retired in 1989 at the age of 42.
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Barry Bonds
The same year that baseball player Barry Bonds turned 40, he won his seventh National League MVP award. In his final MLB season two years later, he was an All-Star for the San Francisco Giants.
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Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice turned 40 in 2002 and played in the NFL until 2006. With 303 games, he holds the NFL record for most passes received (1,549) and most receiving yards (22,895).
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Paul Maldini
The former AC Milan and Italian national team player had a long career that spanned from 1984 to 2009. Nicknamed Il Capitano (“The Captain”), he is considered one of the greatest defenders of all time. He retired at the age of 41.
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Dikembe Mutombo
After turning 40 in 2006, Dikembe Mutombo became the oldest player in NBA history to grab more than 20 rebounds in a game with 22 rebounds. He retired at the age of 42.
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Pete Rose
After turning 41, Pete Rose made the NL All-Star team for the second year in a row. In 1985, at age 44, he broke the record with his 4,192nd hit during a game against the Padres. He retired in 1986.
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Francesco Totti
The former Italian footballer played exclusively for Roma and the Italian national team during his career. He began his career in 1992 and retired in 2017 at the age of 40.
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Gordie Howe
After turning 40, Gordie Howe continued to play in the NHL. He retired at age 52 and briefly returned at age 69 on a one-game contract with the Detroit Vipers.
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Romario
The Brazilian politician is better known for having achieved global fame as one of the greatest football players of all time. The striker retired in 2009 at the age of 43 after a 23-year career.
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Hank Aaron
The year Hank Aaron turned 40, he hit his 715th home run in a game against the Dodgers, making him the 1974 home run champion.
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Jack Nicklaus
The year Jack Nicklaus turned 40, he won his fourth U.S. Open and fifth PGA Championship. Six years later, at age 46, Nicklaus won his sixth Masters.
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Javier Zanetti
The Argentine football star retired at the age of 41 after a career spanning almost 20 years. He was best known as a player for Inter Milan between 1995 and 2014.
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Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan is considered one of the greatest MLB pitchers of all time, playing for four teams, the Mets, Angels, Astros and Rangers, over four decades. He retired in 1993 at the age of 46.
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Martina Navratilova
After retiring for five years, Martina Navratilova returned to the tennis court at the age of 44, playing mainly doubles, winning 12 more doubles titles and an additional three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles before she turned 50.
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Claudio Pizarro
The retired Peruvian footballer was a striker for many years. After a long career in Germany, he is considered a living legend of the Bundesliga. He retired in 2020 at the age of 41.
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Suzuki Ichiro
Former baseball outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was a professional for 28 seasons, playing in both his native Japan and the United States from 1992 to 2019.
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Ryan Giggs
