Age is just a number: Three footballers above 50 still gracing the pitch

Premier League - Manchester United v Watford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 23, 2020 General view of a match ball held by Manchester United's David de Gea during the warm-up before the match [Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith]

Old age is probably the main reason why most professional soccer players hang their boots.

The very basic underlying factor is that with old age, most players lose pace and stamina as their bodies become stiffer and more prone to injuries, which take longer to heal.