Francesco Totti and the Champions League's 10 Evergreen Players
Francesco Totti made European history on Tuesday night with a 23rd-minute goal against Manchester City, in so doing becoming the oldest goalscorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League.
His strike earned AS Roma a point at the Etihad Stadium, proving that the 38-year-old was still more than capable of having an impact at the highest level of the game.
In recognition of his achievements, here is our list of the most notable veterans in this season's Champions League, those aged 35 and over who are still important parts of their respective squads as they search for European glory.
Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus
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We're not ranking these—merely going through position by position.
One of the best goalkeepers of all time continues to ply his trade at the top of the game, with Juventus stopper Gigi Buffon still the No. 1 at 36 years of age.
The Italian side didn't make it through the group stages last season so are searching for better this time around.
Ricardo Carvalho, Monaco
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Ricardo Carvalho has played in the Champions League for Real Madrid, Chelsea and now with Monaco.
The Portuguese centre-back is 36 years of age and still leads the back line for last season's Ligue 1 runners-up.
With star names having departed the scene without really being replaced, it remains to be seen how far ASM can go this season, but they won their opening Champions League group game.
Eric Abidal, Olympiakos
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A 35-year-old defender now, Eric Abidal has played for Barcelona and Monaco—the latter not in the Champions League at the time—before joining Greek side Olympiakos.
Capable at either left-back or playing more centrally in the back four, Abidal overcame serious illness with a liver transplant during his days in Spain to resume his top-class career.
The Greek side took a win in their first game against Atletico Madrid, last season's beaten finalists.
Sergey Ignashevich, CSKA Moscow
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Russian legendary defender Sergey Ignashevich is still a pillar in the CSKA back four at age 35.
With over a century of caps to his name and at the Moscow club since 2004, the captain remains an indispensable member of the team and has played in European competition in each of his seasons with the current Russian champions.
CSKA face a struggle to go through their group after two straight defeats.
Andrea Pirlo, Juventus
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Another Juventus man now and the timeless Andrea Pirlo, the midfield maestro who is 35.
Whether you love him for his beard, his passing or his ability to establish himself as one of the world's most endearing players late in his career, it seems the Italian is almost universally appreciated right now.
Juve face Atletico Madrid in their second match.
Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Zenit St. Petersburg
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Thirty-five-year-old grizzled Ukrainian midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk spent four years with Bayern Munich and was part of their squad that won the 2013 Champions League.
Now at Zenit St. Petersburg, Tymoshchuk can play in the centre of defence or as a controlling midfielder and is well-known for his tough-tackling approach.
Zenit have made a great start to the season and won their opening Champions League group game.
Frank Lampard, Manchester City
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Frank Lampard is a familiar name to Premier League viewers, with the 36-year-old switching Chelsea for Manchester City—via signing for an as-yet inactive MLS side, New York City FC—this summer.
Lampard won the Champions League with his former club and is looking to help his new side progress further than the last couple of seasons this time around.
City have taken one point from their first two games.
Francesco Totti, Roma
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To Totti now, Roma's 38-year-old forward who remains a key part of the side.
The captain is a one-club-man, having played well over 500 times for the Serie A outfit.
Roma have taken four points from their opening two games and face a double-header against Bayern Munich in the coming rounds.
Claudio Pizarro, Bayern Munich
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Speaking of Bayern Munich, the Bavarian side still count Claudio Pizarro in their ranks after he signed a new one-year deal in the summer.
Pizarro is now aged 35 years old and has been in Germany since 1999, apart from a short one-year stint with Chelsea in England.
Bayern have taken maximum points from their first two games, with Pizarro coming off the bench in both.
Didier Drogba, Chelsea
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We finish up with another striker, another who counts the Champions League among the titles won in his career.
Didier Drogba is now back at Chelsea, where he won the trophy in 2012, at 36 years of age.
Chelsea have four points from their two games in the Champions League group stage, with Drogba starting one of those.
