Seven football veterans who have defied time this season | OneFootball

Time waits for no man, but this list of veterans are certainly doing their best to defy it. The 2024/25 campaign has seen several senior names continue to thrive, producing some of the best football of their respective careers.

Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona

There was some suggestion that Robert Lewandowski had started to slow last season. Though a return of 26 goals in all competitions was hardly poor form, the veteran failed to reach 20 goals in a league campaign for the first time in nine seasons as Barcelona ended the season trophyless.

Lewandowski has bounced back this time around to prove that class is indeed permanent. He’s scored 40 goals in 49 games across all competitions to fire Barcelona within touching distance of a domestic double.

At 36, it’s the best return of his three seasons in Spain and the eighth time he’s breached 40 goals in a campaign during his career.

Ivan Perisic – PSV Eindhoven

PSV Eindhoven took a punt on Ivan Perisic last summer, snapping up the experienced winger on a free transfer after he mutually terminated his contract with Hadjuk Split.

It’s a deal that has paid off in some style for PSV, with Perisic winding back the clock in the Eredivisie. The 36-year-old has returned 15 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, for a PSV team battling to retain their title heading into the final two fixtures.

The Croatian creator has still got it.

Ante Budimir – Osasuna

From one Croatian to another, Ante Budimir is perhaps the definition of a late bloomer.

The towering target-man has produced the best football of his career in his thirties, scoring prolifically for Osasuna in La Liga. When joining the Spanish side at 28, Budimir had reached double figures for league goals in a season just once in a top-tier league.

He’s now done so three times in five years with Osasuna, including hauls of 17 and 19 across the last two seasons. Only Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski have outscored the 33-year-old in La Liga this season.

Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk might be nearing his 34th birthday, but the Dutch defender remains, arguably, the best in the business. Arne Slot led Liverpool to Premier League title success this season and will be grateful to have had his compatriot to lean on.

Van Dijk has been a rock for the Reds, leading the Premier League for touches and passes into the final third. Defensively, He’s second for aerial duels won, fifth for percentage of aerial duels won, and fifth for interceptions.

Albeit a distant second, he ended the campaign as runner-up to Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah for the FWA Footballer of the Year award.

Isco – Real Betis

What a delight it has been to see Isco back to his best this season.

The midfield magician appeared on the wane after a modest end to his time at Real Madrid and a stuttering, short-lived spell with Sevilla, but the move to Betis has brought out the best in Isco again.

After earning inclusion in the La Liga Team of the Season in 2023/24, he’s been arguably even better this time around. The 33-year-old has 11 goals and nine assists in 29 games in all competitions, despite missing the opening months of the season with a fractured fibula.

He was magnificent as Real Betis beat Fiorentina to reach the Europa Conference League final, where silverware would conclude another classy campaign.

Dusan Tadic – Fenerbahce

Dusan Tadic continues to age like a fine wine.

Despite turning 36 in November, the Serbian schemer’s output has barely slowed down. Tadic leads the Turkish Süper Lig for assists (12) heading into the final few games and has added 11 goals.

He’s been the chief creator in Jose Mourinho’s side, as Fenerbahce have tried to keep pace with Galatasaray in the title race. Tadic has now scored 10+ league goals from midfield in seven straight seasons.

Xherdan Shaqiri – Basel

Xherdan Shaqiri’s heroic return to FC Basel might just be one of our favourite stories of the season.

The 33-year-old rejoined his first club in August, following a decorated and nomadic career that had taken in stops at Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Stoke, Liverpool, Lyon and Chicago Fire.

The diminutive difference-maker has been just that for Basel, in a special Swiss Super League campaign. Shaqiri scored 18 goals and laid on 20 assists in 31 games, leading the division on both metrics as Basel won their first league title in eight years.

What a homecoming for The Alpine Messi.

Read – The European title races going down to the wire this season

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