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A general rule of thumb in sport is the accepted decline of a player’s powers once they hit their early 30s. Traditionally, that has been the stage of a career when abilities start to wane and the rigours of time begin to set in, however, some athletes have bucked that trend, extending their stay at the elite level well beyond their 40s.
They say “life begins at 40”, and for these admirable specimens, that idiom carries extra weight. In this feature piece, we take a look at some of those combatants who’ve thrived when others have wilted.
Tom Brady: The GOAT Who Rewrote the Retirement Age
Where else to begin, but with the evergreen Tom Brady, the quarterback whose remarkable consistency and longevity allowed him to dominate the NFL as well as the markets on the best UK betting sites for what felt like an eternity.
Born in the sunny climes of San Mateo, California, in 1977, the star performer and seven-time Super Bowl winner, played right at the top until he was 45, winning his final title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 43. Indeed, Brady won more Super Bowls than any other player in the history of the NFL.
Like a fine wine, Brady seemed to get better with age, as evidenced by his remarkable post-40 statistics. From that landmark age onwards, Brady threw for over 31,000 yards and nearly 200 touchdowns in the regular season alone.
In addition, he led the league in yards and touchdowns at 40, won MVP honours and delivered playoff magic that younger arms could only dream of.
His 2021 season with the Bucs was a particular highlight and saw him throw for 5,316 yards and 43 TDs at 44, numbers that would be career-defining for most quarterbacks in their prime.
Brady has often been asked about the secret behind his durability. He has candidly explained that he had a fanatical commitment to recovery, sport science, nutrition (the TB12 method) and crucially, avoiding the kind of big hits that shorten careers.
Brady showed that athletes can reap the benefits if they treat their bodies like high-performance machines and his obsession with staying in peak condition has been an inspiration for a new generation of sports stars.
LeBron James: King James Still Reigning in His 40s
If Brady is the NFL blueprint, then LeBron James is the NBA’s equivalent. James, who turns 42 in December, is still strutting his stuff and having just left his beloved LA Lakers, he’s seeking out a new challenge ahead of the fresh 2026/27 season.
That’s set to be his 25th NBA campaign as “The King” continues to produce at levels that shatter expectations. In his age-40 season, the power forward averaged around 23-25 points, 7+ rebounds, and 7+ assists per game, netting with an efficiency that belies his advancing years.
He’s also posted 40+ point games since hitting his fourth decade, joining the legendary Michael Jordan as one of the few to do so past the age of 40. In many ways, his all-round game has actually evolved rather than declined, even if that raw athleticism of youth has dissolved.
LeBron’s approach to keeping himself at the top revolves around science and includes cryotherapy, yoga, load management, precise nutrition and strength training to combat sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss).
James has also spoken openly about how he “invests” in his body like it’s a business. His career has spanned four decades, multiple franchises (Cavaliers twice, Heat, Lakers) against a backdrop of endless scrutiny. Yet he remains a perennial All-Star threat and a hugely influential figure, both on and off the court.
Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese Phenomenon Still Scoring at 40+
On this side of the pond, the most obvious example of a mainstream star defying his age, is Cristiano Ronaldo. The striker, who turned 41 in February 2026, still leads the line as a first-choice pick for his national team, Portugal, while banging in goals at club level for Saudi Pro League outfit, Al-Nassr.
This summer, before Portugal’s Round of 16 exit to Spain, Ronaldo became the first player in the history of association football to score in six different World Cup tournaments on what is expected to be his last show on that particular stage.
A footballer with an unerring dedication to his craft, Ronaldo has always treated his body like a temple, with a “first in, last out” approach to training along with a long-standing respect for sports science, recovery and nutrition, allowing him to stay in optimal shape.
An evolving playing style has also been key to his longevity. Ronaldo initially emerged as a dazzling winger, whose thrilling, explosive bursts were his first trademarks, however, he eventually transformed himself into an efficient goal machine, with more limited movement, but greater output.
His rivalry with antagonist Lionel Messi, of course, has provided extra motivation for Ronaldo to pursue excellence for so long. Critics have questioned his effectiveness in recent seasons, especially at international level, though Ronaldo isn’t quite ready to hang up his boots just yet.
Other Athletes Who Defied Father Time
We’ve focused on three household names above, however, the overall list of greatest athletes who played past 40 at the highest levels is a pretty lengthy one.
Gordie Howe (who owns the clever nickname “Mr. Hockey”) played into his 50s in the NHL, skating competitively at 52. Nolan Ryan pitched in MLB until 46, throwing no-hitters late and leading in strikeouts deep into his 40s, while golf’s Jack Nicklaus won a Masters at 46
In boxing, George Foreman reclaimed the heavyweight title at 45, while Randy Couture competed in UFC into his mid-40s. Tennis has Venus Williams, still competing at 45, and her sister Serena who pushed boundaries before retiring.
There are examples of longevity everywhere you look. Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated into his late 30s/early 40s, while Jerry Rice produced as a wide receiver past 40 in the NFL.
More and more footballers, like PSG, Juventus and Italy stopper Gianluigi Buffon, are playing past 40, which points to a changing trend.
So, what unites these athletes? How are sports stars’ careers becoming longer? Genetics has undoubtedly played a role for some, however, the advances in sports science in areas like nutrition, strength training, supplementation, data-driven load management and recovery protocols have been crucial.
There is a mindset layer to all of this too. Professionalism in sport has never been sharper and that, combined with the above is a potent recipe for longevity. At the current trajectory, it won’t be long until we see 50-somethings competing at elite level.
Oldest Professional Athletes by Sport
- Association football
- Tércio Mariano de Rezende (Amateur): 91 years (2013)
- Robert Carmona (Professional): 64 years, 62 days (Active)
- Australian rules football
- Sampson Hosking (SANFL): 48 years, 159 days (1936)
- Wally Watts (WAFL): 44 years, 49 days (1916)
- Auto racing (Rallying)
- Sobiesław Zasada: 91 years (2021)
- Baseball
- Satchel Paige (one-off): 59 years, 350 days (1966)
- Basketball (Men’s)
- Pierluigi Marzorati: 54 years (2006)
- Basketball (Women’s)
- Nancy Lieberman: 50 years (2008)
- Bodybuilding
- Albert Beckles: 53 years (1991)
- Bowling
- Carmen Salvino: 86 years (2020)
- Boxing
- Albert Hughes: 70 years, 234 days (2019)
- Cricket (Tests)
- Wilfred Rhodes: 52 years (1930)
- Cricket (First-class)
- Raja Maharaj Singh: 72 years (1950)
- Cycling (Road)
- Lex Nederlof: 52 years (2018)
- Robert Marchand (Masters): 106 years (2018)
- Cycling (Road women’s)
- Jeannie Longo: 53 years (2011)
- Cycling (Track)
- Shoichi Yuasa: 68 years (1996)
- Cycling (Track women’s)
- Miyoko Takamatsu: 54 years, 11 months, 4 days (2017)
- Golf
- Gary Player: 73 years (2009)
- Gymnastics
- Oksana Chusovitina: 51 years, 12 days (Active)
- Johanna Quaas (Amateur): 86 years (2012)
- Ice hockey
- Gordie Howe (one-off): 69 years, 276 days (1997)
- Gordie Howe (retirement): 52 years, 10 days (1980)
- Jaromír Jágr: 54 years, 136 days (Active)
- International Darts
- Paul Lim: 72 years, 157 days (Active)
- Lacrosse
- John Tavares: 47 years (2015)
- Mixed Martial Arts
- John Williams: 70 years, 139 days (2010)
- Rugby league
- Billy Wilson: 40 years, 5 days (1967)
- Snooker
- Fred Davis: 79 years (1993)
- Sumo
- Hanakaze Daisaku: 51 years (2022)
- Surfing
- Kelly Slater: 54 years, 140 days (Active)
- Tennis (Women’s)
- Gail Falkenberg: 76 years, 147–153 days (2023)
- Tennis (Men’s)
- Henry Young (Masters/Seniors): 102 years, 278 days (Active)
- Gardnar Mulloy (Professional): 48 or 49 years (1962)
- Track and Field
- Stanisław Kowalski: 105 years, 75 days (2022)
- Volleyball
- Miguel Maia: 55 years, 69 days (Active)
