While many players move to the sidelines or retire upon hitting their thirties, a select group of world-class talents continues to feature prominently for their national squads. The hardman fullback left Arsenal in 2022 to move to France and Marseille. In France, he joined a pretty decent team that featured players like Alexis Sanchez and Dimitri Payet. As for his national team, Kolasinac came up through the German youth ranks but switched to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013.
Transitioning away from top European divisions often sparks rumors of international retirement, yet these seven players prove that age is merely a number when it comes to representing one’s country.
Making his most recent appearance against the Netherlands in the previous international break, he’s already the country’s record appearance holder with 115 and continues to add to that.
The now 37-year-old joined Dutch side NEC Nijmegen on a free transfer in the summer, having spent the previous season in the UAE with Al-Wahda, as for his club football. The same as the previous three years combined, this year has seen him enjoy his longest run in the team with 11 appearances. There has been relatively little success for him though as he has only an Asian Cup runners-up medal to his name.
Having set a Championship record of 43 goals in one season, Mitrovic left Fulham three years later for the money of Saudi Arabia.
Scoring a goal a game in his first season and spent a second season there before moving to Qatar and Al Rayyan, he joined Al Hilal. This time to Atalanta in the summer of 2023, where he remains to this day, one year there and he was on the move again. But is still part of the Croatia squad a whole 15 years after he was first called up, perisic missed out on last night’s England game. After his brief stint with Spurs, Perisic went back to Croatia to join Hajduk Split but left in 2024 as a free agent to join PSV. Scoring 28 goals in his 93 matches and the team have won the Eredivisie in the two seasons he has been there, he has settled in there well. Scoring seven and assisting 12 in his first season and he is still part of the Korea set-up, son has been playing his football in the US where he is tearing it up for LA FC. Both records for the national team, he made his debut back in 2010 and has made 153 appearances and scored 59 goals.
7 forgotten ballers you won’t believe are still playing international football.
You will have noticed that once you get past 30, you tend to head to the fringe leagues of world football, which makes players older than that still playing for their national teams even more impressive, if you’ve read any of our other forgotten baller pieces.
But you deserve that spot when you have scored 92 international goals, there is a six-year difference between the centre forward and any other player in the squad.
Making him the third top scorer at the club, he’s got 10 in 23 games so far.
The former Southampton midfielder is still turning out for Serbia.
The following list highlights veteran players who remain vital components of their respective international setups
Veteran International Stars
- Robert Lewandowski: Despite his move to the Chicago Fire in the MLS, the Polish forward remains a key figure for Poland. At 37, he holds a unique position, maintaining a six-year age gap over his teammates while continuing his prolific scoring, evidenced by 10 goals in 23 appearances for his club.
- Dušan Tadić: The Serbian icon continues to serve his nation with record-breaking consistency. Having earned 115 caps, he currently plies his trade at NEC Nijmegen after a stint in the UAE, proving his longevity on the pitch.
- Aleksandar Mitrović: The Serbian captain is a powerhouse for his national team, holding the record with 64 goals in 106 appearances. Following his prolific tenure at Fulham and a move to Al Hilal, his international impact remains unmatched within the squad.
- Sead Kolašinac: The former Arsenal defender has carved out a consistent role for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since switching allegiances in 2013, he has earned 73 caps, currently finding stability at the club level with Atalanta.
- Ivan Perišić: Even at 37, Perišić is a fixture for Croatia, amassing 161 appearances. His career has taken him from Spurs back to Hajduk Split, and his presence in the international squad spans over 15 years.
- Son Heung-min: South Korea’s most celebrated player continues to lead his country on the world stage. Playing for LA FC in the US, he remains the record-holder for his nation with 59 goals in 153 appearances.
- Takumi Minamino: Still just 31, the former Liverpool winger has revitalized his career at AS Monaco. He remains a core member of the Japanese national team, continuing a journey that began in 2015.
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- Without S04’s Dzeko: Nikola Katic faces tough test with Bosnia-Herzegovina SchalkeTOTAL.
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