Manchester United and Premier League legend Ryan Giggs turns 40 years old Ryan Giggs at 40. We salute you. PLENTY has changed in the world of football in recent decades, but in the Premier League there has been one constant: Ryan Giggs. The Welsh wizard with a left-foot to dream of has dazzled fans across the globe, and his extraordinary career and longevity is being celebrated on Friday as he turns 40. When he should be sitting back reflecting on a stellar career with a glass of red in hand, the Manchester United legend is instead still proudly wearing red, and continues to deliver. If his virtuoso display against Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League this week was any indication- where he clocked up over 10km over 90 minutes - Giggs continue to defy his age and baffle his opponents. Still going strong. As Ryan Giggs celebrates his 40th birthday and closes in on 1000 appearances for Manchester United, we take a look at how he compares to some of world sport's other golden oldies. "I've run out of things to say about Ryan," teammate Wayne Rooney said after the mid-week win. Actually, during the game, the Bayer centre-half was asking how he is still playing at that age. I certainly won't be playing at that age, that's for sure. His composure on the ball is great. They say goalkeepers can play into their 40s, but how about a dazzling left-winger with searing pace, who reinvents himself as a cultured player through the middle of the park to become a calming influence in a squad fending off rivals year after year? He's scored in every Premier League season (who is to back against him adding to that this year) and with his remarkable fitness levels, we could even see him go around again. "I don't know, I've never been guided really by the age, it's just about how I felt, if I'm contributing, if I'm still getting picked, still enjoying it, that's the sort of markers that I look for and all those things I feel like I'm doing," he told former teammate Gary Neville in a recent interview. Yeah I could probably contribute a little bit more but hopefully that will come as the season goes on. But no just because I've turned 40 doesn't mean that's it, if I felt like that then I might as well just pack it in now but I still feel good and still enjoying it, so no not really. He boasts the most Premier League appearances and UEFA Champions League caps and now the final member of United's famous class of 1992 still playing joins Teddy Sheringham, Gordon Strachan and Bryan Robson in the EPL's '40' club. While his 1992 cohort don clipboards or business portfolios now, Giggs's discipline and focus has remained a key ingredient. I envy them when we go out for a meal,' Giggs told The Times earlier this year. They've got a glass of wine and I've got a still water, boring. They're kicking on and I've got to go home to bed. I think once you've finished, you've made peace with yourself, you're ready for it. Giggs celebrates with Paul Ince in 1994. This is embarrassing to say but I have cried twice in my life watching a football player. The first one was Maradona and the second was Ryan Giggs. Alessandro Del Piero It's almost impossible to replace a player like Ryan Giggs - you do not find many players like him. He is a rarity. He has world class attributes and has achieved so much at one club. You can only look up to him Sir Alex Ferguson All of us at Juventus agreed Manchester United were the best side we met in the Champions League. They have so many talented young players and can only get better and better. Giggs is truly world class Zinedine Zidane I think it will only be when he hangs up his boots that people will realise just how remarkable a player he is and just what he has achieved Rio Ferdinand He has been an unbelievable player. The only problem I saw in him is that he played for the wrong team, from my point of view. He should have played for us Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola. He is Mr Manchester United Michael Carrick. Plenty to applaud. The Premier League has seen some outstanding players but because of his age and longevity at one club, he stands out as the best. David Moyes He's the best player I played with. I just remember him playing for Salford Boys as a 15-year-old and Fergie coming up and down the hallway saying: 'just watch this boy on the left-hand side'. Mark Bosnich Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's not as good as Ryan Giggs. Johan Cruyff Ryan makes you believe there is a football god. Ron Atkinson Maybe one day people will say I was another Ryan Giggs. George Best There have been many outstanding players I've had as teammates, but if I had to choose I'd choose Giggsy, he can do anything. Paul Scholes The FIFA World Cup is poorer for never having had Wales" Ryan Giggs in it. Name: Ryan Joseph Giggs (born Ryan Joseph Wilson) Date of birth: November 29, 1973 Place of birth: Cardiff, Wales Position: Left-winger/central midfielder Club: Manchester United (1990-date) Appearances: 953 Goals: 168 Debut: March 2, 1991 (v Everton, Manchester) National team: Wales (1991-2007) Appearances: 64 Goals: 12 Debut: October 16, 1991 (v Germany, Nuremberg) Last appearance: June 2, 2007 (v Czech Republic, Cardiff) Olympic team: Great Britain (2012) Appearances: 4 Goals: 1 Honours Club UEFA Champions League (2): 1998-99, 2007-08 UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991 Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999 FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008 PFA Young Player of the Year: 1991-92, 1992-93 PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2008-09 BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2009 Other OBE (Order of the British Empire, for services to football): 2007