Rio de Janeiro, Oct 16 (IANS): Former Brazil international goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni has revealed he could continue his distinguished career beyond his 40th birthday.

Ceni, 39, has been influential in Sao Paulo's rise to fourth in Brazil's Serie A standings after the club's poor start to the current season, reports Xinhua.

His contract expires in December but the veteran admitted the prospect of playing in next year's Copa Libertadores - South America's most prized club competition - could prove an irresistible lure.

"It's tempting. It would be nice to play in the Copa Libertadores next year. It's something that I will decide upon in the first half of November. If it's what the club wants, then we will go ahead," said Ceni, who will celebrate his 40th birthday in January.

Ceni, who played 17 matches for Brazil between 1997 and 2006, has the distinction of being the only professional goalkeeper in history to score more than 100 top-flight goals.

The free-kick and penalty-taking specialist is still considered one of the finest strikers of the dead ball in world football.