The 2024/25 season of seven evergreens in football fight against age

Time waits for no one, but this group of veterans are fighting with time. The 2024/25 season witnessed many senior players continuing to shine and reaching the peak of their careers.

Lewandowski (Barcelona)

Last season, there were voices questioning Lewandowski's decline in competitive state. Although the 26-goal report card in various competitions is not ugly, the Polish forward failed to break through the 20 mark for the first time in nine years, and Barcelona also encountered a season where all four major goals were gone.

Lewandow rebounded strongly this season, using his actions to prove that the sharpness of the top shooter will never fade. He scored 40 goals in 49 games, and he almost pushed Barcelona to the throne of the domestic double championship with his own strength. At the age of 36, this is not only his best stat since the three seasons in Spain, but also his eighth career goal-breaking 40 marks in a single season.

Perisic (Eindhoven)

Last summer, Eindhoven signed Perisic, who terminated the contract with Hayduke in a free transfer, and this adventure received great rewards. The 36-year-old Croatian Flying Wings regained their second spring in the Eredivisie field, handing over stunning data of 15 goals and 11 assists, helping PSV to take the initiative to defend the title before the final two rounds of final battles. This midfield magician proved with his performance that ginger is still so spicy.

Budimir (Osasuna)

Budimir, the Croatian, is a model of late success. The fulcrum center, 1.90 meters tall, ushered in its thirties and became the goal-scoring machine in La Liga. When he landed in Spain at the age of 28, he had only once scored a double-digit goal in the top league. Now playing for Osasuna for five years, he has achieved this achievement three times, and has scored 17 goals and 19 goals respectively in the past two seasons. In the La Liga scorer list this season, the 33-year-old ranked third after Mbappe and Lewandowski.

Van Dijk (Liverpool)

The Dutch Iron Gate, who is about to be 34, is still firmly in the throne of the world's top central defender. The defender made an indelible contribution in Slott's journey to lead the Red Army to the Premier League. Van Dijk leads the league in multiple defensive data: in the end, he has the best of the Premier League in the third zone, the second most successful air confrontation, the fifth most successful air confrontation rate, and the top five interceptions. Although he lost his teammate Salah in the FWA Footballer selection, his dominant performance is beyond doubt.

Isco (Real Betis)

Witness to Isco's return to the top is undoubtedly the most moving story of the season. After experiencing Real Madrid's late downturn and Sevilla's frustration, the midfield magician regained his life at Betis. The selection of the La Liga All-Squad last season is just the prologue, and he has gone to the next level this season: despite missing the opening stage due to a fibula fracture, the 33-year-old still contributed 11 goals and 9 assists in 29 games. The dominant performance of the Europa League semi-finals against Fiorentina even sent Betis to the final, just one step away from the perfect season.

Tadic (Fenerbahce)

36-year-old Serbian midfielder is like aged wine, the longer it becomes. The Turkish Premier League has entered the final stage, and he still leads the assist list with 12 assists and contributes 11 goals at the same time. Under Mourinho, Tadic is the core engine of Fenerbahce's rival Galatasaray, and his feat of scoring double-digit goals in the midfield position for seven consecutive seasons is legendary.

Shaqiri (Basel)

"Alpine Messi"'s story of returning home is the best script of the season. The 33-year-old Swiss elves chose to return to their roots after wandering in Munich, Milan, Stoke City, Liverpool, Lyon and Chicago. In the first season of returning to the parent team, they handed in 31 games with 18 goals and 20 assists, winning the Swiss super double crown, leading Basel to end the eight years waiting to regain the league championship. This song homecoming music plays the most moving melody.