Porto defender, Pepe has become the oldest goal-scorer in the UEFA Champions League history following his late goal in his side’s 2-0 win against Royal Antwerp on Tuesday night.
The former Real Madrid central defender created UCL history by heading home from Chico Conceicao cross in the first minute of additional time at the Estadio do Dragao. Pepe was 40 years and 254 days old. He became the first player to score in the Champions League after turning forty.
Before Pepe, Francesco Totti, who scored the last European goal of his Roma era in November 2014 at the age of 38 years and 59 days, held the mark for the oldest Champions League scorer.
Pepe became the oldest player ever to score a #UCL goal 🇵🇹🍷 pic.twitter.com/ibyApAQ6nc
— LiveScore (@livescore) November 8, 2023
When Portugal defeated Switzerland 6-1 in a FIFA Men’s World Cup knockout match last year in Qatar, Pepe became the oldest player ever to score a goal in the competition’s knockout stage.
Roger Milla, who scored for Cameroon against Russia in the 1994 World Cup group stage, 39 days after turning 42, still holds the record for being the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history.
Pepe made his UCL debut aged 21 for Porto in 2004 against Russian side, CSKA Moscow. After spending three seasons with the Portuguese club, he made a €30 million move to Madrid where he spent 11 years and won multiple trophies including the UCL on three occasions.
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The 40-year-old then made a switch to Turkish outfit, Besiktas on a short-term deal in the 2018/19 season. He returned back to Porto in the 2019 winter transfer window and has been a mainstay for the side.
In 2026, Pepe will be 43 when the Men’s World Cup begins.
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