The science that keeps Messi, Ronaldo and other stars playing at 35+

Published : Monday, 27 July, 2026 at 5:19 PM

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Advanced sports science, nutrition, recovery technology and medical innovation have transformed modern football, allowing superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to remain competitive well beyond the traditional retirement age. Experts say today’s elite players are no longer just footballers, they are finely tuned athletes supported by a sophisticated ecosystem of science and technology.

In an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, Christopher Iuola, director of Getafe’s medical services, explained the major factors behind the increasing longevity of football careers. He highlighted nutrition as one of the biggest changes in modern football, saying that maintaining an ideal physical condition has become essential for players.

“Nutrition has become the most important factor for footballers. Today, it is almost impossible to see an overweight player competing at the highest level,” Iuola said.

He compared modern footballers with legends of previous generations, noting that Diego Maradona was not known for having a muscular physique but was still considered one of the greatest players in history. Today’s footballers, however, are developed as complete athletes with carefully managed fitness, diet and recovery routines.

Iuola also pointed to the massive growth of medical support within clubs. Recalling his early days at Getafe in 1998, he said medical teams were once extremely limited, while modern clubs now employ large groups of specialists dedicated to player performance and injury prevention.

The current system includes regular physical assessments, nutritional monitoring and supplements such as magnesium and creatine when required. Technologies like thermal imaging are used to track muscle fatigue and oxidation levels, while recovery programs involve physiotherapy, wave therapy, magnetic resonance treatments, pressure chambers, hydrotherapy, saunas and jacuzzis.

According to Iuola, these methods help reduce oxidation, improve oxygen delivery and accelerate recovery, allowing players to extend their careers. Modern dressing rooms, he said, have almost become laboratories focused on maximizing athletic performance.

The impact is evident in the careers of several football icons. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, Luka Modrić at 40, Lionel Messi at 39, Iago Aspas at 38, Robert Lewandowski at 37 and Kevin De Bruyne at 35 are examples of players continuing to perform at the highest level beyond the age of 35.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup also witnessed a record number of players aged 40 or above. The group included 43-year-old Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon, Ronaldo, Modrić, Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa, Germany’s Manuel Neuer, Bosnia’s Edin Džeko, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera.

By comparison, no player aged 40 or older featured in any World Cup tournament between 1930 and 1978.

One extraordinary exception was English footballer Horace Harry Lowe, who played for Real Sociedad in La Liga at the age of 48 in 1935. He was forced to appear because the team travelled with only 11 players and one squad member became ill during the journey.

In Spain’s top flight, Joaquín Sánchez remains one of the oldest players to have played regularly, finishing his career at the age of 41.

The trend of veteran players continuing into their 40s has become a defining feature of Spanish football. Players such as Santi Cazorla and Adrián recently retired after reaching that age bracket, while Raúl Albiol continues his career with Pisa. Others, including Picu Cuéllar (42), Cristian Stuani (39) and several veteran goalkeepers, are still competing professionally.

For modern football’s aging superstars, the secret is no longer a mystery,it is a combination of science, discipline and a level of physical preparation that previous generations never had access to.

-HIS