By Victor Kanayo
Portuguese international and Porto captain Pepe has now become the oldest scorer in the UEFA Champions League history, after he netted a goal for FC Porto that beat Antwerp 2-0.
Pepe, who is 40 years, 254 days old, scored in stoppage time after Brazilian striker Evanilson put the hosts in front with a first-half goal.
Pepe breaks the previous record set by legendary Roma striker Francesco Totti, who was 38 years and 59 days old when he scored
against CSKA Moscow almost nine years ago.
Giggs And Others
Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs is the third on the list of the competition’s oldest scorers after his goal against Benfica in September 2011 at the age of 37 years and 290 days.
The former Real Madrid defender is also the oldest outfield player in the club’s history, but still has some way to go before becoming the competition’s oldest appearance maker.
That honour currently belongs to former Lazio goalkeeper Marco Ballotta, who was 43 years and 252 days old when he played against Real Madrid in December 2007.
Also Filippo Inzaghi on November 3, 2010, became the oldest at 37 years, 87 days to score in the same competition when AC Milan played Real Madrid.
After then, it was Javier Zanetti during Inter versus Tottenham Hotspur on November 20, 2010, at 37 years 72 days who had the oldest player record to have scored.
About two years after, Luka Modric also scored for Real Madrid agaisnt Celtic, when he was 37 years 54 days.
Edin Dzeko and Olivier Giroud also scored when they were slightly above 37 years during Champions League matches with latest Giroud’s strike coming on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.pe
