FOOTBALLERS are said to be at the peak of their fitness when they are playing.
But a number of the world’s former footballing superstars actually look even fitter in retirement than during their playing days.
And SunSport is here to give you the rundown on some of the stars who are ageing like fine wines…
Rio Ferdinand
Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand was a cultured ball-playing defender, especially when compared to his more brutish central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic.
However, Ferdinand was no slouch in a physical battle, and after a glittering 20-year career where he won 15 trophies he has doubled down on that part of his physique.
The 43-year-old’s muscles can often be seen bulging while he wears a suit during punditry work and he has posted photos flexing his impressive muscles.
He even teased becoming a boxer – however he retired before ever actually having a fight.
Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra is up next, and like Ferdinand he enjoyed a glittering career with 21 trophies to his name across stints with Manchester United, Juventus and Monaco before retiring in 2019.
Evra regularly posts feel-good messages on his Instagram page, with his trademark “I love this game” coming out often.
But Evra isn’t just a talker – he’s also a doer as his shredded physique testifies.
David Beckham
Everyone knows no list about fit-looking former footballers is complete without David Beckham.
Following his retirement from football in 2013, the former England captain continued to pursue modelling work, and still has partnerships with brands such as TUDOR watches and Haig Club.
In his playing days, Beckham had a far leaner look but now has a shredded physique with an impressive set of tattoos to go along with it.
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Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini still holds a stranglehold when it comes to being named among the best defenders of all time, even well over a decade on from his retirement
The Italian, now 54, was one of the best to ever play the game, and coined one of the most famous quotes of any footballer: “If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake.”
The AC Milan legend was never the most imposing player – not that he had to be – but in retirement, the Milan director has worked into a more chiselled figure with a defined six-pack to boot.
Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Seedorf was included in Ferdinand’s toughest Champions League XI, and if that doesn’t indicate the type of quality the former midfielder had, then the 19 trophies in his cabinet should be enough.
Ferdinand labelled Seedorf: “One of the most underrated players of our generation,” and such a statement might be fair considering the calibre of clubs he played for at the height of their powers.
Since retirement, Seedorf shares his videos of his intense workouts and beach-going antics online to his 1.4million Instagram followers.
Ze Roberto
While some footballers lose their shape following retirement, some manage to change their physique so drastically that it surprises everyone.
And that is exactly the case with former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid star Ze Roberto, who is now 48.
Despite retiring five years ago, Roberto has one of the most chiselled bodies you are likely to see, with him revealing his bodybuilding secrets back in 2020.
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Antonio Conte
It would be easy to say Antonio Conte never truly left his playing days behind.
The fire the former Juventus midfielder had while playing could still clearly be seen as he squared up with Thomas Tuchel during Chelsea and Tottenham’s Battle of the Bridge II.
And now at 53 one might have expected his physique to have dipped a bit, but as seen from his spot of paddle boarding earlier this year, he looks as fit as a fiddle.
Zinedine Zidane
The great midfielders just keep on coming, this time in the form of Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane is credited as having two of the most iconic moments in football history thanks to his stunning goal in the Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen for Real Madrid and his headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final.
The Frenchman was never needed to be the most domineering player but now aged 50 looks as good as ever when he posts on his Instagram for his 33.5m followers.
Andrea Pirlo
The tongue-in-cheek phrase “no Pirlo no party” couldn’t have been more appropriate in Italian football between 2011 and 2015, such was Andrea Pirlo’s impact on the outcome of who won the Serie A title in each of those seasons.
The maestro made passing an art form and easily stands alongside the likes of Xavi and Paul Scholes among the best passers of a football ever.
Pirlo tried his hand at management after retirement, unsuccessfully thus far, but has had great success in keeping in shape despite hanging up his boots in 2018.
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David Ginola
The last man on our list is French winger David Ginola. The former Spurs and Paris Saint-Germain man retired all the way back in 2003.
Ginola suffered a heart attack in 2016 during a charity football match in France which saw him die for eight minutes, but fortunately, he recovered and opened up on his ordeal.
However, as seen with his 2021 appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, his body appearance has more than stood the test of time, even if he has less hair than he used to.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
