It is enough to have the 'money-ballers' in a spin. Those calculating data scientists would have you believe that the most influential footballers are 27-year-olds, who run at least 12 kilometres every game.
But as the arrival of Thiago Silva at Chelsea goes to show, there is still a place for a 'Golden Oldie', even in the ultra-fast pace of the Premier League.
Silva arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer from Paris Saint-Germain with seven league titles under his belt in France and one in Italy with AC Milan.