Who Is the Oldest Football Player Ever? The Mind-Blowing Truth

Chasing the Legends: What Does "Oldest" Even Mean?

First off, let’s clear the field. When people ask "Who’s the oldest football player ever?", they might be thinking of different things. Oldest to play professionally? In a World Cup? Or just… someone who kicked a ball in a match at some level, officially?

That said, let’s stick with the most recognized standards: professional matches, official registrations, and recorded appearances.

Meet Kazuyoshi Miura: The “King Kazu” Still Kicking

A Career That Just Won’t Quit

Kazuyoshi Miura, born in 1967 (yep, that’s pre-internet era), is officially recognized as the oldest professional footballer still active. As of 2025, he's playing at 58 years old — and not just in legends matches or charity games. We're talking real, competitive leagues.

This Japanese forward started his career in 1986, and as crazy as it sounds, he hasn’t stopped since. He’s played in Brazil, Japan, Italy, Croatia, and Portugal. Wild, huh?

In fact, in 2023, he signed with Oliveirense, a club in Portugal's second division. That move made him the oldest active pro player in Europe. Talk about football never dying in your veins.

Still Fit as Ever?

Well, okay — he's not sprinting like a 25-year-old winger. But he's incredibly disciplined, maintains peak physical condition, and is respected like a legend in every locker room he walks into. That’s something.

Honorable Mentions: Not Just One Man’s Game

Ezzeldin Bahader – Oldest in an Official Match

Here’s a twist. In 2020, Egyptian player Ezzeldin Bahader was certified by Guinness World Records as the oldest to play in an official match. He was 74 years old. Yep, you read that right.

Bahader played a full 90-minute game in Egypt’s third division. He even scored a penalty! But — and here’s the thing — his career wasn’t as long or as high-level as Miura’s. It was more of a record-setting event than a continuous journey.

Stanley Matthews – The Old-School Legend

Ah, we can’t forget Sir Stanley Matthews. Played his last top-flight English game in 1965 at 50 years old. Different era, sure. But still, impressive. He was so good that even at 50, he was outplaying guys half his age.

Funny story: some say he never even got booked once in his career. Imagine that happening today!

Wait, Does Goalkeeping Count? (Spoiler: It Does)

Some folks argue that goalkeepers last longer — fair point. Take Marco Ballotta, an Italian keeper who played Champions League football for Lazio at 43. But again, Miura trumps that in longevity.

Still, shout-out to those keepers who seem to age like fine wine. Less sprinting, more shouting and reflex saves. But it’s still top-tier competition.

Why Do They Keep Playing? Passion? Ego? Legacy?

It’s not just about the money (most of the time). Guys like Miura — they love the game. You can see it in how they train, how they talk about football, how they light up when stepping on the pitch.

Sometimes it’s also about identity. When you’ve been a footballer for 40 years, walking away is... terrifying, honestly. There’s also a legacy thing — breaking records, inspiring younger players. And, yeah, maybe ego plays a part. But hey, wouldn’t you want to prove the world wrong too?

So, Who Really Is the Oldest Football Player Ever?

Honestly? It depends on how you slice it.

• Oldest active pro player with a serious career? That’s Kazuyoshi Miura, no doubt.

• Oldest player in a recognized match? Probably Ezzeldin Bahader, Guinness-certified.

• Oldest top-flight player in Europe (back in the day)? Let’s give it to Stanley Matthews.

Each one broke limits, defied norms, and yeah — reminded us that age really can just be a number (if your knees agree).

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.