Real Madrid Not at his best for two seasons

In May, Marcelo turns 32 years old and in today's sporting world that is considered to be an ideal age to still perform at the highest level, but the Real Madrid left-back has spent the last two seasons in veritable physical decline.

Injuries have of course played their part in that, and he has just overcame the last of them, but even when he is fit, he doesn't get to the levels set just a few years ago when he was undoubtedly the best left-sided full back in the world.

Marcelo has played 19 games this season, but has also had four significant injuries, though coach Zinedine Zidane has given him all the confidence necessary to help him become a decisive player again.

Everyone knows that Marcelo is not at his best defensively, but now even going forward he is having less impact which has led fans to prefer Ferland Mendy as Real Madrid's starting left-back.

Last season, Marcelo was counted upon and played 34 games, despite the ups and downs with Santiago Solari, who benched the Brazilian multiple times.

Zidane's return to Los Blancos was something of a salvation for Marcelo, as the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu fans had also begun to question him.

Questions of Marcelo's future with the team next season have already begun, and it all has to do with his physical decline.

At just 31 years old, in the 21st century, it is inexplicable, particularly when athletes seem to be able to lengthen their careers and perform at the top level until they are 35 or 36 years old.

This is where comparisons with football's other top stars comes into play. No one questions the physical condition of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, and they are still the best in the world.

Messi himself is 33 in June, and despite an injury at the beginning of the season, is still physically exceptional and has been phenomenal in the LaLiga Santander campaign for Barcelona.

In fact, except for the Copa del Rey match with Ibiza, Messi hasn't been substituted once, thus completing 23 games.

Ronaldo turned 35 in February, and is still as physically potent as he ever was, missing just five matches for Juventus this season.

No one disputes that he has an incredible physique, but that is down to the Portuguese star himself, given he is a tireless worked. And no one is talking about any decline for the Bianconeri No.7.

There are some cases of players who are older than Marcelo and still remain at the top of their game.

Sergio Ramos is an example of this in his own dressing room. The Real Madrid captain turns 34 at the end of March, and continues to be a key player for Los Blancos and Spain.

His contract is up in 2021 and the intention of everyone involved is to renew that deal. No one questions his leadership or fitness. Both are magnificent.

Most striking though are those who are the same age as Marcelo, and are in the best form of their careers.

Robert Lewandowski, is about to turn 32, or Angel di Maria, who is already that age. Neither have seen the seen the same physical drop that Marcelo has had in the last two seasons.