The Oldest Players to Score in Top European Leagues | OneFootball

Once you become a pro in sport, especially in football, it becomes a big part of your identity and a whole of your lifestyle, so giving it up at a certain age is a challenge everyone handles differently. Every so often, a veteran steps onto the pitch and reminds the world that years are just a number that can never keep you away from something you dearly love and enjoy. Many who follow goal-scoring records or betting stats through platforms such as the Optimobet website already know how remarkable these late-career milestones can be.

Across Europe's major leagues, a handful of players carved out a place in history by scoring at ages when most professionals have already retired. Let's remember each one of those gems again:

Premier League: Teddy Sheringham

Premier League record for a goal for West Ham at 40 years and 268 days belongs to Teddy Sheringham. He adapted his play over the years to achieve the best possible performance in each of his career eras. In the final phase, he became a link-up specialist who orchestrated as many beautiful moments as he realized by himself.

Following his path, other veterans, like Ryan Giggs and Zlatan Ibrahimovi?, also stretched the limits of longevity in England, but Sheringham's record still stands and inspires. 

La Liga: Joaquín

Real Betis legend Joaquín scored in La Liga after he turned 40 and with it secured his place among Spain's oldest scorers. His goal reflected decades of master wing play.

La Liga has long been friendly to veteran creators and Joaquín's career serves as proof for that. His tremendous influence remained not because he outran younger players, but because he out-thought them.

Serie A: Francesco Totti

Francesco Totti scored for Roma at 39 years and 364 days, and few records carry this much emotion. Totti aged on the pitch, not off it.

Totti's presence and a deep connection with his club are forever iconic in the history of Serie A.

Bundesliga: Claudio Pizarro

Claudio Pizarro was 40 years and 227 days when he became the Bundesliga's oldest scorer. He made the net many times with Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich. 

Pizarro picked smart angles and waited for the right moment. That approach extended his career far beyond expectations.

Ligue 1: Hilton

Defenders rarely dominate scoring lists, but Vítorino Hilton is a special case. He scored for Montpellier well into his forties. Ligue 1 had the pleasure of witnessing Hilton's leadership and discipline long after many of his peers retired. 

Why should you know any of this?

Fans admire legendary late-career scorers because they go against the idea that football is only for the young. Defying all prejudices and human body axioms made their undeniable legacy even bigger.

After each of such amazing careers, modern football came to the conclusion that sports science, recovery routines, nutrition, and position-specific training let players stay competitive later in life. Clubs now value veterans more.

Final Thoughts

Among the best of European football, only a few managed to be on the pitch after reaching 39. Those who did made sure their goals made marks in history forever. They proved that skill, patience, intelligence and passion can outweigh physical decline. Hopefully, more players will join this exclusive list, but for now, these names stand as reminders that time does not always dictate a footballer's final chapter.