Soccer is widely known as a young man’s sport. You need stamina and speed to compete. But how young is the youngest? And how old is the oldest?
The data might surprise you.
Professional soccer is a grueling sport. The average player runs about 7 miles in a game – spread out over 90+ minutes of intense activity. You have to be in top physical shape to play.
I’ve always wondered how that related to age. And, does age matter more or less in different positions?
So I analyzed official data from Stathead, Football Observatory, Macro-Football, and took Michael Caley’s Football Aging Curve into account to answer the question once and for all. How old is the average soccer player?
As of October 10th, 2024, the average age of a soccer player in one of the big five European leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1) is 25-27 years old or more specifically, an average age of 26.79 across all positions.
That’s just a bit older than the average NFL player, about 8 months older than the average NBA player, and almost 2 years younger than the average MLB player.
However, actual ages can vary a great deal. The youngest Premier League player in 2024 is Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, who is just 17 years old (but he started playing at 16).
The oldest is FC Porto’s Pepe, who at 41, beats Cristiano Ronaldo for oldest player by 2 years. But, considering he retired in July 2024, that crown passes to someone else now.
Let’s dive into a position-by-position breakdown of the average age of soccer players at every position.
- Average Age of Soccer Goalkeepers
- Average Age of Soccer Defenders
- Average Age of Soccer Midfielders
- Average Age of Soccer Forwards/Strikers
- Average Age of Soccer Players by Position
- Pro Soccer Age FAQs
Average Age of Soccer Goalkeepers
The average age of goalkeepers in the Big Five leagues is 28.84 years old.
The average age for goalkeepers to peak is 29-33 years old. Keepers also tend to have one of the longest careers in soccer – because their roles are less about running over the field and more about positioning, reflexes, and making the right decisions.
In fact, most of the heaviest soccer players are goalkeepers.
Therefore, it’s common for them to keep playing through their mid-to-late 30s.
Goalkeepers also start young.
Today, the youngest goalkeepers are 18-year-olds: Guillaume Restes from France, Marcel Mendes from Poland, and Noah Raveyre for AC Milan.
The oldest? At 42, Diego López is the oldest active goalkeeper in the Big Five. But, until 2023, Gianluigi Buffon held the title at 45 – as well as the accolade of being considered one of the greatest goalies of all time.
Average Age of Soccer Defenders
The average age of pro soccer defenders is 26.7 years old.
The average age to peak tends to be 27-31 years old.
Defenders rely on experience, positioning, and tactical awareness. That means an experienced 27-year-old might be a better player than an 18-year-old. Still, fullbacks require a lot of stamina to cover the field, so they tend to be younger than central defenders.
The youngest professional defender is Peyton Miller of the New England Revolution at 16. But, when you look at the Big Five, that’s Leny Yoro of Lille at 19. Jorrel Hato of Ajax is also 18. And, Luka Vušković of Belgian Pro League Westerlo is just 17.
What about the other side? That’s Pepe who retired from FC Porto in July 2024 at 41 years and 113 days, making him the oldest player to ever feature in the European Championship.
Average Age of Soccer Midfielders
Midfielders bring down the overall average a lot, with an average age of 25.9 years old.
That age drop makes sense when you consider just how much speed and agility these players need.
Midfielders run more than any other position, with an average of 7+ miles per game. Plus, with a strong need for awareness, speed, and agility, it makes sense for players to be younger.
The youngest professional midfielder is Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal at 17. He also joined in 2022, at just 15, making him the youngest player to ever appear in the top flight of English soccer.
Luka Modrić of Real Madrid on the other hand is 38, as is James Milner of Brighton & Hove Albion.
Average Age of Soccer Forwards/Strikers
The average age of pro soccer forwards is 25.9 years old.
That works out to a peak age of about 25-29 years old, which makes sense considering the speed, quick reactions, and agility required of the position.
Only a handful continue playing into their 30s. Still, hats off to those who do.
With more than 10 strikers aged 18 or younger, it’s hard to name the youngest forward. But Dortmund striker Yossoufa Moukoko stands out at just 18 years old.
The oldest is former Manchester player Edin Džeko, although he no longer plays for a Big Five league team. Still, at 38, he’s playing as a striker for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team and is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation.
Average Age of Soccer Players by Position
With an average age of 26.51 years across all positions, soccer players are on the younger side compared to other professional sports. Still, that does vary per position.
- Goalkeepers – 29.33 years old or 28.8
- Defenders – 27-31 years old or 26.7
- Midfielders – 25-30 years old or 25.9
- Forwards – 25-29 years old or 25.9
Pro Soccer Age FAQs
Which Big Five soccer team has the youngest players?
The average age of soccer players in the big five European leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue) is 26-27 years old. However, Ligue 1 is known for fielding younger players. AS Monaco has an average age of 24.3 years in the starting lineup.
What’s the average debut age of soccer players?
Across positions, players tend to debut at different ages. Goalkeepers, who often require more time to develop their skills, usually debut in their mid-20s, while forwards debut earlier, with an average age of around 21. Still, that age is dropping, with 61 under-18 players on the field in 2022.
Who’s the youngest soccer player right now?
At 17 years old, Ethan Nwaneri is one of the youngest soccer players out there right now. But, he debuted in 2022 at just 15 years old. However, Mikey Moore, born on August 11, 2007, is the youngest Premier League soccer player.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo the oldest soccer player right now?
At 39 in 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo is not just an all-time top three goal scorer, he’s one of the oldest players on the field right now. Pepe retired in 2024 at 41. Still, Dante of Lique 1 is 40 and Diego Lopez is 42.
Are soccer players getting younger?
According to data from the Football Observatory, the big five soccer leagues have had an average of 30-35 minors (players under 18) on the field between 2009 and 2021. In 2022, that peaked to 61 players and in 2023 it was 49.
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