Messi and Ronaldo together at last in Premier League free Golden Oldies XI

There is often plenty of intrigue and fanfare surrounding a top performing young player in Europe's top five leagues, but those the wrong side of 30 can often be neglected. Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Juventus ace Cristiano Ronaldo will see their careers wind down sooner rather than later, but their performances, along with the form of their peers around the same age, deserves adulation. 

Here, we take a look at the best rated XI of players aged 32 and over at the start of the season (August 9th 2019) and of those to have made 15 or more appearances with some world class stars making the cut. 

Goalkeeper: Andrea Consigli (Sassuolo) - 6.97 rating 

Hugo Lloris may have a marginally better WhoScored rating than Andrea Consigli, but with the former making just 12 league appearances this season, it's the latter who makes the cut in this Golden Oldies XI. The 33-year-old has made 69 saves in Serie A this season to help feature between the sticks having earned a WhoScored rating of 6.97 this term.  

Right-back: Christopher Trimmel (Union Berlin) - 7.22 rating 

33-year-old right-back Christopher Trimmel played a key role in Union Berlin's eventual promotion to the Bundesliga last summer and the Austrian has maintained an impressive level of consistency to continue his good form in Germany's top tier. Trimmel gets forward down the right well, as evidenced in his seven assists, and he features in this side with a WhoScored rating of 7.22.  

Centre-back: Thiago Silva (PSG) - 6.97 rating 

Using all of his experience and distribution qualities to aid PSG, Thiago Silva is the first of two Ligue 1 representatives here with a modest WhoScored rating of 6.97. The Brazilian defender has a better pass success rate (95.5%) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues this season to reinforce a strength of 'passing' and, even at 35 years of age, he continues to shine. 

Centre-back: Domenico Criscito (Genoa) - 6.99 rating 

Genoa may occupy a spot at the wrong end of the Serie A table - they currently sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference only - but they would be in a more perilous position without Domenico Criscito in defence. The 33-year-old is the club's third best rated player with a WhoScored rating of 6.99 having bagged an impressive seven of their 31 league goals this season. 

Left-back: Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma) - 7.15 rating 

Keeping with Serie A, Aleksandar Kolarov has proven a solid capture by Roma from Manchester City following his arrival in 2017. A real threat in the final third, be it from open play or a dead ball situation, the left-back has routinely proven that age is but a number with the 34-year-old chipping in with six goals and three assists in Serie A this season, those coming from respective returns of 2.3 shots and two key passes per game to help earn a WhoScored rating of 7.15. 

Right midfield: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 8.61 rating 

Having turned 32 before the season started, Lionel Messi is eligible for this XI and he is far and away the best rated player with a WhoScored rating of 8.61. The Barcelona star is the only player to have registered double figures for both goals (19) and assists (12) in LaLiga this season and has been named the WhoScored man of the match 13 times. Like Kolarov before him, and those in this XI, age is but a number for Messi. 

Central midfield: Santi Cazorla (Villarreal) - 7.24 rating 

Upon his return to Spain, Santi Cazorla has been a force to be reckoned with, which is all the more impressive considering his previous injury woes. The Spaniard has eight goals and six assists to his name in LaLiga this season and his 54 key passes is the third best return in Spain's top tier. The 35-year-old has been a key man in the Villarreal midfield and it's backed up in his fine WhoScored rating (7.24). 

Central midfield: Miguel Veloso (Verona) - 7.18 rating 

Verona have been one of the surprise packages in Serie A this season. Beating Cittadella in the Serie B promotion playoff last summer, few gave them a chance of beating the drop, and yet prior to the suspension of all football to help combat the Coronavirus outbreak, they currently sit eighth in Italy's top tier. The experienced Miguel Veloso has been key in the middle of the park with his WhoScored rating (7.18) better than any other player for the Serie A side, that enough to partner Cazorla in this XI. 

Left midfield: Dimitri Payet (Marseille) - 7.73 rating 

Marseille boss Andre Villas Boas has previously moved to quash talk of Payetdependencia in the south of France, yet it's easy to see why the discussion is routinely brought up. Dimitri Payet's WhoScored rating of 7.73 marks one of his best domestic seasons to date with the 33-year-old chipping in with nine goals and four assists in Ligue 1 this season. The experienced Frenchman has made more key passes (87) than any other player in France's top tier this term to justify his inclusion in this XI. 

Striker: Luis Suarez (Barcelona) - 7.56 rating 

Luis Suarez hasn't featured in a Barcelona shirt since January owing to a knee injury, yet he did enough before his spell on the sidelines to ensure he makes the Golden Oldies XI. The Uruguayan may be the wrong side of 30, but he enjoyed a fine run of form prior to his absence having had a direct hand in all but one of 10 competitive Barcelona appearances to help contribute to an average WhoScored rating of 7.56 this season.  

Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 7.90 rating 

In a formidable frontline pairing, Cristiano Ronaldo rounds off this XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.90. The Juventus star has been exceptional for the Old Lady this season, particularly since the turn of the year. All in all, Ronaldo has 21 goals and three assists to his name in Serie A this term and, while at 35 years of age, the Portugal international shows no signs of slowing.