Five veterans still strutting their stuff at the top of the game

They say football is a young man's game but there are a few players still disproving that rule.

After 38-year-old Luka Modric scored Real Madrid's winning goal against Sevilla last Sunday, we pick out a handful of stars from across the continent who are defying conventional wisdom.

Luka Modric, 38 (Real Madrid)

Modric is a particularly impressive entrant to this list considering all of the ground he covers in midfield.

The Croatian legend was his national team's Duracell Bunny aged 37 at the World Cup in Qatar little over 12 months ago and is still delivering for Madrid.

Though he does play less often these days, he has still featured in 29 matches in all competitions this season, clocking up 1,476 minutes of action and scoring a few big goals.

Thiago Silva, 39 (Chelsea)

Thiago Silva has held Chelsea's defence together at times over the last four seasons — and is still a valuable member of the team.

Though he has not been so impressive this term, the Brazil international's calmness and leadership has been much needed in a team that lacks those characteristics.

And should he leave the Blues this summer, there is no reason why he cannot carry on his superb career elsewhere.

Pepe, 41 (Porto)

European centre forwards will be delighted when Pepe finally hangs up his boots.

The Porto defender is still a master of the dark arts, with Arsenal the latest victim when the sides met in Europe last week but would not have survived this long if he was not also a top player.

His CV boasts three Champions League crowns from his time at Real Madrid and multiple other trophies — and more success at club and international level is very possible this season.

Jesus Navas, 38 (Sevilla)

Jesus Navas signed for Manchester City in the prime of his career nearly 11 years ago — but is still producing the goods at the top level.

The Spaniard played 183 matches across four years in England before returning to boyhood side Sevilla, where he has racked up a remarkable 675 outings across two spells, by far the most of any player in the club's history.

Converting from a winger to a full-back in the latter stages of his career, only eight players have managed more minutes than the 38-year-old in the Europa League holders' squad this term.

Olivier Giroud, 37 (AC Milan)

The ultimate ageless forward, Olivier Giroud is still doing the same things for AC Milan as he was for Montpellier 13 years ago.

Never reliant on his pace, the Frenchman's game is all about stature and technical prowess, skills he has taken to Serie A after an accomplished Premier League career.

And having become France's all-time leading goalscorer at the World Cup in Qatar, nobody could rule out more heroics at Euro 2024 in the summer.