Yeah, he's still quick. Is he Man United 2004-2009 quick? Absolutely not, he was insanely fast back then, almost no one could catch him, I'd say he's about within the average of quick and fast players now. Sometimes he gets caught, sometimes he can still run away from all kinds of defenders. His top speed is lagging, but his acceleration is well above the average still, in my view.
Some things have gone with the age, but others are just as good, which at his age is quite remarkable. His technique overall has dropped if you consider technique as a whole, but his shooting technique at 38 is just impeccable, as good as it was at any point of his career. The amount of power he generates on his shots today, from the angles he shoots, the body positions from which he is shooting sometimes, like yesterday, are just absolutely fantastic still, in my humble opinion. His splitstep work (which usually deteriorates fast with age, i.e. with tennis players) is still nothing short of insanity at this age. His timings, off the ball vision of the play, ability to ditch defenders and get himself into free shooting positions, are just as good as ever.
Sure he's definitely playing in an easier league, some goals are clearly in line with a worse general level of defending in the Saudi leageu, but one watches half of the goals he's scored this season, and the absolute perfection with which he struck the ball in some of those goals, and I think it's fair to say he'd have scored those same goals in any league out there.
He's a good football player at this age, still one of the best in terms of scoring goals, reduced in quality in other apects of play. I don't think it's a hot take from me. I think it's normal he's still quality. Messi has also been showing that while not being the same, the peak was so high that even at 36 he's overall a quite good football player and still one of the best in the world in terms of passing, vision, anticipation, etc.
