There are stars proving once again through the FIFA Club World Cup that age is just a number.
Stars like Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami), Sergio Ramos (39, Monterrey), Luis Suárez (38, Inter Miami), and Ángel Di María (37, Benfica), who have entered the twilight of their careers as soccer players, continue to play key roles for their respective teams and are recognized as MOTM (Man Of The Match).
"God of soccer" Messi continues to assist his teammates with precise passes and combination play. In particular, Messi scored a comeback goal on the 19th (Korea time) in a match against Porto, which they won 2-1, earning him a spot as MOTM.
Ramos previously played against Inter Milan (Italy) on the 18th, which ended in a 1-1 draw. He scored the opening goal and successfully limited Inter Milan's attacks. Ramos transferred to Mexico last February for a new challenge.
Suárez, who is playing alongside Messi at Inter Miami, assisted Tadeo Ayende's opening goal in the 16th minute and scored an additional goal to make it 2-0 in the 20th minute of the second half in their match against Palmeiras, which ended in a 2-2 draw on the 24th.
Di María played as a right winger in a 6-0 victory against Auckland City (United States), scoring a penalty kick at both the beginning and the end of the match.
As they approach their 40s, they are expected to continue to appear as their teams have advanced to the tournament. Benfica, where Di María plays, will face Chelsea, while Inter Miami, with Messi and Suárez, will take on Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Monterrey will clash with Dortmund in the round of 16, vying for a spot in the quarterfinals.
They are legends boasting brilliant careers, including World Cup, Champions League, and league titles. However, they continue to attract the attention of fans by still exerting influence on the stage of the world's top clubs.
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