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Football's golden oldies

This was the FIFA World Cup final in which players in their prime were expected to dominate, with Ronaldinho fancied as the pick of the pack. It was also seen as the tournament that would provide young genius — Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, to name just two superstars — an opportunity to strut its stuff. The question asked before the 64-match carnival got under way in Germany was whether the old warhorses still had the freshness of mind and body to put on a last grand performance. As teams such as France, Brazil, and England plodded unconvincingly through their opening matches, the answer appeared to be a dispirited `No'. Many believed Zinedine Zidane made a mistake when he decided to reverse his retirement from international football. The three-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award lived in glory during a period in which France won the World Cup (1998), the European Cup (2000), and the Confederations Cup (2001). However, Zizou and other stars of the Les Bleus firmament appeared to have their best years behind them when they finished last in their pool in the opening round of the 2002 world championship. At that time the midfield general, still recovering from injury, was unable to inspire any kind of revival. Four years later, it hardly appeared possible that Zizou would fare well in a sizzling German summer. What a delicious surprise awaited those who thought Spain would put an end to the ambitions of the 34-year-old French captain and his men. Zidane's legs might no longer have the strength to power him up for soul-smashing headers but he still has the vision and positional sense of a great footballer.

The real Ronaldo famously failed to turn up for the duel with France in the 1998 final. From the pre-match night of the mysterious illness through the next four years when he struggled with career-threatening injuries, the Brazilian star seemed to be in decline. The promise of a resurgence suggested by his magnificent show in the 2002 tournament was short-lived and when the Seleção began its latest bid for the crown, he was no longer regarded as its talisman. But unheralded and unsung Ronaldo struck thrice over the past week in Germany to become the all-time top-scorer in World Cup finals. At nearly 30, he might have lost a few yards of pace but continues to be lethal inside the box. While David Beckham was never known as a well-rounded midfielder, the 31-year-old can still bend it better than perhaps any other contemporary footballer. If the England captain lacks mobility, the same cannot be said of his Brazilian counterpart. Cafu, playing his fourth Cup at the age of 36, never fails to amaze as he gallops up and down the right touchline for the full 90 minutes. Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram, Luis Figo, Mark Viduka, and other stalwarts provided their teams with service that was yeoman-like for the most part and inspired on occasion. As the sun sets on the careers of these golden oldies, the football-loving world owes them a collective salute.

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