With over 40 years
The oldest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League wanted to score the goal – for his mother. “Today is a special day for me. It’s my mother’s birthday and I told her that I will do what I can to score a goal,” said Pepe after his FC Porto’s 2-0 win against Royal Antwerp FC. At 40 years and 254 days or eight months and twelve days, when he scored in stoppage time, he was older than any footballer in the Champions League before him.
Pepe overtakes Totti: oldest goalscorer in Champions League history
11 Cristiano Ronaldo | Man United | 36 years, 9 months, 18 days
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On November 23rd, 2021 in a 2-0 win against Villarreal
As of November 8, 2023
10 Paolo Maldini | AC Milan | 36 years, 10 months, 29 days
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On May 25, 2005 in a 5:6 defeat against Liverpool
9 Laurent Blanc | Man United | 36 years, 11 months, 4 days
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On October 23, 2002 in a 3-2 win against Olympiacos
8 Olivier Giroud | AC Milan | 37 years, 1 month, 8 days
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On November 7th, 2023 in a 2-1 win against PSG
7 Edin Dzeko | Inter Milan | 37 years, 1 month, 23 days
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On May 10th, 2023 in a 2-0 win against AC Milan
6 Luka Modric | Real Madrid | 37 years, 1 month, 24 days
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On November 2nd, 2022 in a 5-1 win against Celtic
5 Javier Zanetti | Inter Milan | 37 years, 2 months, 10 days
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On October 20, 2010 in a 4:3 win against Tottenham
4 Filippo Inzaghi | AC Milan | 37 years, 2 months, 25 days
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On November 3rd, 2010 in a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid
3 Ryan Giggs | Man United | 37 years, 9 months, 16 days
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On September 14, 2011 in a 1-1 draw against Benfica
2 Francesco Totti | AS Roma | 38 years, 1 month, 29 days
© Getty Images
On November 25th, 2014 in a 1-1 draw against CSKA Moscow
Pepe replaced Francesco Totti as the oldest goalscorer in the premier class. The Italian scored for AS Roma in November 2014 at the age of 38 years and 59 days (or one month and 29 days) (1-1 against CSKA). “The feeling is indescribable because anyone who plays at this level at this age – and for a big club like Porto – knows that it takes a lot of work, a lot of sacrifices and a huge passion for this sport.” His last goal Pepe scored in the Champions League for Real Madrid in the 2012/13 season.
For the 2016 Portuguese European champion, it is the second “premier class” record in a short time: he set his record as the oldest field player in the 4-1 win in Antwerp on the previous matchday. He also overtook an Italian: Alessandro Costacurta, AC Milan icon. Pepe increased his lead in the statistics this week. Pepe is still a few years away from becoming the oldest professional in the history of the most important European cup: goalkeeper Marco Ballotta was 43 years, eight months and eight days old when Lazio Rome lost 3-1 to Real in 2007.
Matthäus to Pepe: Oldest field players in the “premier class”
Lothar Matthäus I FC Bayern I 38 years, 11 months, 16 days
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on March 8, 2000 in a 4-1 win against Real Madrid
Néstor Sensini I Udinese Calcio I 39 years, 1 month, 25 days
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on December 7th, 2005 in a 2-0 defeat against FC Barcelona
Jan Heintze I PSV I 39 years, 2 months, 5 days
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on October 22, 2002 in a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund
Francesco Totti I AS Roma I 39 years, 5 months, 10 days
© IMAGO
on March 8, 2016 in a 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid
Amedeo Carboni I FC Valencia I 39 years, 7 months, 18 days
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on November 24th, 2004 in a 2-1 win against RSC Anderlecht
Paolo Maldini I AC Milan I 39 years, 8 months, 7 days
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on March 4, 2008 in a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal FC
José Fonte I SC Braga I 39 years, 8 months, 29 days
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on September 20th, 2023 in a 1:2 win against SSC Napoli
Timmy Simons I FC Brugge I 39 years, 11 months, 11 days
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on November 22, 2016 in a 1:2 win against Leicester City
Donato I Deportivo La Coruna I 40 years, 1 month, 20 days
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on February 19, 2003 in a 0-1 win against FC Basel
Zlatan Ibrahimović I AC Milan I 40 years, 2 months, 4 days
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on December 7th, 2021 in a 1:2 win against Liverpool FC
Anastasios Mitropoulos I Olympiakos I 40 years, 3 months, 17 days
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on December 10, 1997 in a 2-2 draw against Rosenborg BK
Ryan Giggs I Man United I 40 years, 4 months, 3 days
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on April 1, 2014 in a 1-1 draw against FC Bayern
David Weir I Rangers I 40 years, 6 months, 27 days
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on December 7, 2010 in a 1-1 draw against Bursaspor
Alessandro Costacurta I AC Milan I 40 years, 6 months, 28 days
© IMAGO
on November 21, 2006 in a 0-1 win against AEK Athens
Pepe I FC Porto I 40 years, 8 months, 12 days
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on November 7th, 2023 in a 2-0 win against Royal Antwerp FC
Antwerp is safely eliminated from the Champions League due to the defeat. FC Porto moved to first place in Group H due to FC Barcelona’s defeat in Hamburg against Shakhtar Donetsk and has the best chance of reaching the round of 16. Porto and Barcelona each have nine points.
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