Pepe and the 7 Oldest Goalscorers in Champions League History

Pepe is now the oldest scorer in UEFA Champions League history after netting a late goal in Porto's 2-0 win over Royal Antwerp on Tuesday.

The centre-back achieved this milestone in the first minute of added time by skillfully heading home a cross from Chico Conceicao at the Estadio do Dragao.

At the age of 40 years and 254 days, the Real Madrid legend secured this record, becoming the first player to find the net in the Champions League after celebrating his 40th birthday.

In honour of Pepe's achievement, Sports Brief looks at the top seven list of oldest Champions League goalscorers, which he tops.

7. Paolo Maldini

Paolo Maldini, an iconic figure in the history of AC Milan, served as an enduring source of inspiration for the club and stood by their side through the highs and lows. He graced many unforgettable Champions League finals, but none quite compared to the momentous 2005 final.

Even though AC Milan were defeated in the Champions League final, Maldini left an indelible mark by scoring a goal in the opening minute of the match, thus securing his place as the oldest scorer in the competition at that time.

The Italian achieved this feat at the age of 36 years and 333 days, per Bleacher Report.

6. Laurent Blanc

Laurent Blanc enjoyed an extraordinary career both as a player and a manager. He played a pivotal role as a key defender for Manchester United and made significant contributions by scoring numerous goals for the club in the Champions League.

During his tenure, the French defender participated in several Champions League matches, but a particularly noteworthy moment transpired in October 2002 when United triumphed over Olympiakos with a 3-2 victory. In that match, Blanc found the back of the net, solidifying his position as one of the elder statesmen in Champions League history. He achieved this distinction at the age of 36 years and 338 days.

5. Javier Zanetti

The enduring figure of Inter Milan, Javier Zanetti, holds the unique distinction of being the sole player in the history of The Nerazzurri to have his jersey retired. Zanetti's remarkable career featured over 1000 appearances for Inter, accompanied by numerous trophy triumphs.

In another remarkable milestone during his tenure with Inter, Zanetti marked a significant achievement by netting a goal in a 4-3 loss to Tottenham at San Siro. Notably, at the age of 37 years and 71 days, he joined the ranks of the oldest players to find the back of the net in the Champions League.

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4. Filippo Inzaghi

Regarded as one of the most revered figures in AC Milan's storied history, Inzaghi's illustrious career at San Siro was marked by a prolific tally of goals and a collection of coveted trophies.

However, his most distinctive moment occurred during a Champions League knockout clash against Real Madrid, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Inzaghi, defying his age at 37 years and 86 days, netted both goals in that match, solidifying his status as one of the senior players to ever score in the UCL.

3. Ryan Giggs

Manchester United have seen the rise of numerous football legends, and without a doubt, Ryan Giggs stands among them. He holds the record for the most appearances for the English club.

In the 2011-12 Champions League season, Giggs achieved yet another milestone in his illustrious United career by scoring against Benfica. This remarkable feat crowned him as the oldest goalscorer in the competition, with the clock ticking at 37 years and 289 days.

2. Francesco Totti

Totti devoted his entire playing career to Roma, amassing a multitude of accolades. Despite tempting offers from several top-tier clubs, his unwavering passion for Roma remained constant. He accomplished the remarkable feat of spending an astounding 22 seasons with the club, consistently setting a lofty standard.

Totti ultimately announced his retirement when he reached an age that made it challenging to continue. His pivotal moment arrived when he scored in a 1-1 draw against Manchester City, earning him the distinction of being the tournament's oldest player—a record that remains unbroken. He achieved this milestone at the age of 38 years and three days.

1. Pepe

Portugal defender Pepe has etched his name in the history books of the Champions League by becoming the competition's oldest goalscorer.

The centre-back's towering header in the dying moments of the match secured a victory for Porto over Royal Antwerp in Group H, BBC reported.

At the age of 40 years and 254 days, Pepe's 91st-minute strike marked a milestone as he became the first player to score in European football's premier tournament while in his 40s.

Pepe becomes the oldest Champions League scorer

This achievement surpassed the previous record held by Francesco Totti, who scored at the age of 38 years and 59 days.