Extensive analysis by the CIES Football Observatory has ranked all the top football leagues around the world in terms of the average age of the line-ups fielded during the current season.
In Brazil RB Bragantino, currently second in the Brasileirao, fields the youngest teams with an average age of just 24.63 years while league leaders Botafogo are at the other end of this table with an average of nearly 29 years.
Copa Libertadores finalists Fluminense are represented by even older players, their average being 29.73.
But the bottom of the listing is the Copa Sudamericana finalist Fortaleza with a seemingly ancient 30.07.
Gimnasia La Plata, low down in Group A of the league, fields the youngest sides in Argentina at just under 25 years while the leaders, River Plate, have the oldest line-ups, being close to an average of 30 years.
Their great rivals, and Copa Libertadores finalist, Boca Juniors are typically a bit younger, averaging 28.
So, perhaps experience does count especially if you want to reach big Cup finals.
Overall the stats show that if you want to see youngsters go to Belarus where FK Minsk field teams averaging under 21 and go to Bolivia and watch Nacional Potosi (average over 32) for the oldies.
But the most successful clubs are usually from Europe and, for example, the teams leading the way at the top of the Premier League, Tottenham and Arsenal, put out sides with an average age of around 25 years.
Report – Mark Pilkington