Many people often also ignore the human element of this. They think footballers are robots like in their games of FIFA on PS5. There are so many examples of footballers losing their drive to stay at peak performance or who want to move onto other interests.
This wave of guys like Ronaldo, Messi, Ibra, Thiago Silva, Modric, have made people forged that 90% of players over 32 are going to drop their performance lvl. People forget these are professionals with their hands on top level technology, nutricion, recovering etc. Also 2 of them were born with probably 1 in a million natural genaracional talent. That and like you said games like Fifa and FM have made people look at older player in a diferent way ( which is not all 100% correct). Hell, 15 years ago, a 29 year old player would be called ancient.
That and like you said games like Fifa and FM have made people look at older player in a diferent way ( which is not all 100% correct).
FIFA and FM very much help ingrain the idea that players are washed up and on the decline as soon as they hit 30 - which is the opposite of what you’re saying.
I get your point about players like Modric, Messi, Ibra, Silva, etc, distorting people’s opinions of how long a player can be at their peak for - but the FIFA/FM part is nonsense.
I 100% did this. I said “A 29 year old is a total waste of our time and money. its ridiculous. wtf are we doing? The club has lost it! He’s totally washed and over the hill! Did we learn nothing from Joe Cole?!? FFS!”
There are so many examples of footballers losing their drive to stay at peak performance or who want to move onto other interests.
And I can’t really blame them.
You’ve earned millions, played tons of important games, won trophies. At some point you might think ‘‘been there, done that’’ and start prioritizing other things besides your footballing career.
For some players the drive to compete and strive for the best never diminishes but it’s not all what’s out there.
Not to mention, when a player is young and poor they are hungry. I just am not certain how a 32 year old, who is worth millions can have that same want to get out of bed every day with achy joints and go train, instead of living in leisure and just putting in the time. It is still a job and many forget that.
Many people often also ignore the human element of this. They think footballers are robots like in their games of FIFA on PS5. There are so many examples of footballers losing their drive to stay at peak performance or who want to move onto other interests.
This wave of guys like Ronaldo, Messi, Ibra, Thiago Silva, Modric, have made people forged that 90% of players over 32 are going to drop their performance lvl. People forget these are professionals with their hands on top level technology, nutricion, recovering etc. Also 2 of them were born with probably 1 in a million natural genaracional talent. That and like you said games like Fifa and FM have made people look at older player in a diferent way ( which is not all 100% correct). Hell, 15 years ago, a 29 year old player would be called ancient.
FIFA and FM very much help ingrain the idea that players are washed up and on the decline as soon as they hit 30 - which is the opposite of what you’re saying.
I get your point about players like Modric, Messi, Ibra, Silva, etc, distorting people’s opinions of how long a player can be at their peak for - but the FIFA/FM part is nonsense.
No one called 29yr old players ancient 15 years ago.
bud you’re on /r/soccer so you’re talking to a 10 year old, 15 years ago the universe didn’t even exist
I wish I could upvote you twice
🤯
I 100% did this. I said “A 29 year old is a total waste of our time and money. its ridiculous. wtf are we doing? The club has lost it! He’s totally washed and over the hill! Did we learn nothing from Joe Cole?!? FFS!”
… that 29 year old was James Milner.
yeah Zidane was 29 when Real Madrid signed him and I can’t remember anyone talking about his age
Total garbage. 29 year old players have never been considered ancient.
Yep. What could he do that would live up to the ecstasy of winning the league cup?
And I can’t really blame them.
You’ve earned millions, played tons of important games, won trophies. At some point you might think ‘‘been there, done that’’ and start prioritizing other things besides your footballing career.
For some players the drive to compete and strive for the best never diminishes but it’s not all what’s out there.
Casemiro also went from a culture where excellence is expected to a culture where it’s not.
Not to mention, when a player is young and poor they are hungry. I just am not certain how a 32 year old, who is worth millions can have that same want to get out of bed every day with achy joints and go train, instead of living in leisure and just putting in the time. It is still a job and many forget that.
He’s also someone that was competing for everything at Madrid and moved to a club that competes for a champions league spot every year.
Also when they’re young and poor their joints don’t ache, they haven’t been kicked for years, maybe don’t have children waking them up in the night