Some players are at the top from the moment they reach their peak to the moment they retire, but unfortunately for some, their names are only ever remembered by the history books, despite having an illustrious career.
Former Bayern Munich and Juventus striker Luca Toni is still playing Serie A football for newly promoted side Hellas Verona. The world cup winner has netted 5 times in 9 appearances for the Mastini, proving that he still has a lot to offer. Now 36 years old, the legendary goalscorer is in his 19th season of professional football has scored over 230 career goals, and is looking to keep that tally going until at least the end of the season. After forming a formidable attacking trident with Verona youngsters Jorginho and Juan Manuel Iturbe, retirement may have to wait a little longer,
Brazilian midfielder Geovanni is still in action for Brazilian second division side Clube Atletico Bragantino. Playing for clubs such as Barcelona, Benfica and Manchester City, Geovanni is mostly remembered for his time at Hull City, spending 2 years with The Tigers, he scored a few incredible goals, including a blockbuster against Arsenal and an incredible free-kick away to Tottenham Hotspur.
Dubbed ‘The Lazy Magician’ for his lack of dynamism, Riquelme was Argentina’s answer to Andrea Pirlo and Xavi Hernandez, with exquisite passing, intelligent movements and a good shot from range, he was what every club desired back in the early to mid 2000’s. With the game resorting back to counterattacking and long ball formations, players like the former Barcelona man are somewhat forgotten. Whether he hit the heights he could have is debateable, but the fact that he is one of the finest midfielders of his generation, is not. Still playing for Boca Juniors in his native Argentina, he will turn 36 next summer.
Former Liverpool star Luis Garcia now plays his football in Mexico for Mexico City based club UNAM. The former Spain international enjoyed brief spells at Barcelona and Atletico Madrid before joining the Reds in 2004 for a rumoured £6m. His goals to games ratio wasn’t great, but his knack of scoring vital goals solved a lot of problems for Rafa Benitez during his reign in Merseyside, including the famous ‘Ghost goal’ against Chelsea, which is still debated, and that remarkable 30-yard volley against Juve. Liverpool fans weren’t overjoyed when he was used as a makeweight to bring in Fernando Torres in 2007, but the remarkable years the Spaniard spent at Anfield were more than enough to forgive Benitez.
The best player Belarus had since Sergei Aleinikov, Hleb shown his talent in his early career with BATE Borisov and got the step up he deserved when VfB Stuttgart came knocking. 5 wonderful seasons in the Bundesliga got him recognition all over Europe, and in 2005 Arsenal beat Inter Milan and Chelsea to his signature. At Arsenal he became the winger many were hoping he would and became the first Belarusian player to appear in the UEFA Champions League final. A move to Barcelona materialised in 2008 for a rumoured £15million, but from then on the winger regressed, and after loan spells at Stuttgart, Birmingham City and VfL Wolfsburg, he transferred to Russian side Krylia Sovetov, and in 2012, he returned to BATE Borisov, where he still plays today.
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