Serie A has long been defined by aging Italian footballers getting better with age, just like a fine box of Franzia. Recent examples include Francesco Totti scoring 15 at the age of 34, Filippo Inzaghi hitting 13 at the age of 35, Alessandro Del Piero notching 13 at 34, Luca Toni dropping 22 at 38 and Antonio Di Natale recording 14 at 37.
Stars — they're just like us! (Except for David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic — they're celebrating the holidays like only they can.) Here's a collection of how some top footballers celebrated Christmas.
Lionel Messi and family
Well, 2018 was something, wasn’t it?
Soccer in 2018 had a thrilling World Cup in Russia and an engrossing Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign around the world. Real Madrid (again!) won the Champions League and Manchester City had a record year in the Prem. Atlanta United obliterated attendance records in the U.S. while the USMNT took more than 400 days to hire a coach. El Tri gave fans hope at the World Cup with a win over Germany, only to once again go out in the Round of 16.
Kylian Mbappé sure loves his birthday.
The French starlet turned 20 on Thursday, Dec. 20, having already accomplished more by that age than most footballers can only dream of in their entire careers.
Before turning 20, Mbappé won a World Cup, two Ligue 1 titles and one French Cup. He scored nearly a goal per game (73 in 150 for club and country) and became the first teenager since Pelé to score in a World Cup final.
Soccer in Canada has never been better.
The country hosted a wonderful Women’s World Cup in 2015 and will be a co-host for the men’s World Cup in 2026. Christine Sinclair, 35, is one of the best women’s players of her generation and Alphonso Davies, 18, might be one of the best players of his future generation.