COUNTDOWN: The golden oldies in Europe's top five leagues

 

After looking over the best rated players aged 21 and under, we turn our attention to the golden oldies on the continent. Here, we run over the top performers of those aged 33 and over to have made 10 or more appearances in Europe’s top five leagues this season… 

 

Thiago Silva - PSG (7.13 rating) 

 

To nobody’s surprise, PSG top Ligue 1. The defending champions sit 13 points clear of Lille in second and have two games in hand, so, bar a monumental collapse, they will be crowned champions once more. The experienced Thiago Silva has featured in 15 of 19 league games this season and his WhoScored rating (7.13) is the 10th best of those aged 33 and over. The Brazilian’s passes per game (75.9) and pass success rate (94.3%) are both better than any other Ligue 1 player to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘passing’ with Silva once again excelling in France. 

 

Sol Bamba - Cardiff (7.15 rating) 

 

Cardiff City remain in with a chance of staving off the drop as they sit just two points below Newcastle in the table and they’ll be relying heavily on centre-back Sol Bamba’s good form to steer the Bluebirds to safety. The defender has returned a WhoScored rating of 7.15 this season and ranks second for clearances (146) and interceptions (58) and third for shots blocked (27) in the Premier League this season with the experienced Ivorian hugely influential for Cardiff at the back.  

 

Jose Holebas - Watford (7.15 rating) 

 

Another Premier League defending rolling back the years is Watford left-back Jose Holebas. The Greek full-back has returned a WhoScored rating of 7.15 in the Premier League this season having registered more assists (6) than any other top-flight defender in English football. Holebas (24) is second to James Maddison (26) for key passes from set-piece situations with his creative qualities essential for a Watford side that is impressing under Javi Gracia. 

 

Fabio Quagliarella - Sampdoria (7.21 rating) 

 

 

Fabio Quagliarella has been in flying form for Sampdoria this season. No player has scored more goals than the experienced Italian (14) in Serie A this term, with Quagliarella netting in his last 10 league outings. The 35-year-old is proving that age is but a number in Italy’s top tier as he continues to put opponents to the sword with ruthless efficiency. Having scored 14 of Sampdoria’s 35 league goals this season (40%) his value is sky high for the Italian side with Quagliarella landing a WhoScored rating of 7.21 for his efforts. 

 

Aleksandar Kolarov - Roma (7.23 rating) 

 

The second left-back and penultimate Serie A player to make the list, no defender has scored more goals than Aleksandar Kolarov (5) in Italy’s top tier this term, two of which have been direct from free-kicks. The Serb has been a revelation in Rome, maximising his attacking pedigree to return 1.6 key passes per game in Serie A this season. Defensively, too, the 33-year-old has impressed, averaging a combined 2.4 tackles and interceptions combined to land a WhoScored rating of 7.23 in Serie A this season. 

 

David Silva - Manchester City (7.29 rating) 

 

The first of two Manchester City players to make the cut as we breach the top five, David Silva continues to excel in the City midfield. Six goals and two assists is a commendable return for the Spaniard in Pep Guardiola’s side with 2.9 key passes per 90 one of the best returns in the Premier League this season. While a WhoScored rating of 7.29 may not be his best in a City shirt, Silva is still thriving in the Premier League as Guardiola’s team maintains their Premier League title pursuit. 

 

Mathieu Debuchy - Saint-Etienne (7.36 rating) 

 

The second Ligue 1 player to make the grade is Saint-Etienne right-back Mathieu Debuchy. The 33-year-old has looked back to his best following a return to France. Injury has hindered his regular game time, but when fit, Debuchy has excelled, chipping in with two goals and two assists for the Ligue 1 outfit. Additional returns of 1.5 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game has contributed to the defender’s WhoScored rating of 7.36. 

 

Fernandinho - Manchester City (7.42 rating) 

 

Fernandinho’s importance to this Manchester City side is widely underestimated, but there’s no denying that City are a far better side when he features from the get go. Indeed, two of their three league defeats have come in the two league matches the experienced Brazilian did not start this season. 2.1 tackles per game ranks highly in the Premier League this season and has helped Fernandinho land a WhoScored rating of 7.42. 

 

Lukasz Piszczek - Borussia Dortmund (7.43 rating) 

 

Pipping Fernandinho to second spot is Borussia Dortmund right-back Lukasz Piszczek, with the experienced Pole proving to be a key man for the Bundesliga leaders. Only Joshua Kimmich (7) has registered more assists of defenders than the 33-year-old (5) in Germany’s top tier this term as Piszczek maintains his fine form in the Dortmund defence. 4.9 tackles and interceptions per game is one of the best returns in the league and not only means that no team has conceded fewer goals than Dortmund (18) in the Bundesliga this season, but has helped the defender land a WhoScored rating of 7.43 too. 

 

COUNTDOWN: The golden oldies in Europe's top five leagues

 

Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus (7.67 rating) 

 

Topping the golden oldies list is Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward missed the chance to move clear at the top of the goalscoring charts in Serie A after his penalty miss in Monday’s 3-0 win over Chievo. Nevertheless, Ronaldo has been excellent for Italy’s league leaders upon his move to Turin chipping in with 14 goals and five assists to ensure no player in Serie A has had a direct hand in more goals than the 33-year-old (19). Top for shots (133), clear-cut goalscoring opportunities scored (10) and man of the match awards won (5) means Ronaldo is good value for a WhoScored rating of 7.67, that better than any other player in Serie A and those aged 33 and over in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

COUNTDOWN: The golden oldies in Europe's top five leagues