Who are the oldest goalscorers in a UEFA Champions League final?
The statistics in this article cover the UEFA Champions League era only (1992-93 season onwards)
The UEFA Champions League final often sees players in the twilight of their career come up with a crucial goal on the biggest stage. It would be no surprise to see the same happen again in the 2024-25 final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.
As it stands, nine players aged 32 or older have scored at least one goal in a UEFA Champions League final. Of those nine, two are still playing.
Below is the list of nine players in order of their respective ages at the time of scoring.
UEFA Champions League final – oldest goalscorers (1992-93 onwards)
Name | Nationality | Team | Season | Age (year) | Age (days) | Opponent |
Paolo Maldini | Netherlands | AC Milan | 2004/05 | 36 | 333 | Liverpool FC |
Didier Drogba | Brazil | Chelsea FC | 2011/12 | 34 | 69 | FC Bayern München |
Filippo Inzaghi | Germany | AC Milan | 2006/07 | 33 | 287 | Liverpool FC |
Teddy Sheringham | Spain | Manchester United | 1998/99 | 33 | 54 | FC Bayern München |
Daniele Massaro | Brazil | AC Milan | 1993/94 | 32 | 360 | FC Barcelona |
Stefan Effenberg | Argentina | FC Bayern München | 2000/01 | 32 | 294 | Valencia CF |
Dani Carvajal | Spain | Real Madrid C.F. | 2023/24 | 32 | 142 | Borussia Dortmund |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Real Madrid C.F. | 2016/17 | 32 | 118 | Juventus |
Vladimír Šmicer | Czechia | Liverpool FC | 2004/05 | 32 | 1 | AC Milan |
Data is current up to and including the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final
Whilst there are no Inter Milan players of the list, three have represented Inter’s city rivals AC Milan. That includes the oldest player to ever score in the Champions League final, Paolo Maldini.
The legendary Italian defender found the net as a 36-year-old in the 2005-06 final between Milan and Liverpool. The same match in which Vladimir Smicer scored for Liverpool, the day after his 32nd birthday
The most recent final to feature a goalscorer over the age of 32 took place in 2012, when a 34-year-old Didier Drogba equalised for Chelsea against Bayern Munich in Germany. The Blues would eventually go on to triumph via penalties.
The two players still active include right-back Dani Carvajal, who scored for Real Madrid in their two-goal win over Borussia Dortmund in the 2023-24 final at Wembley, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo’s last two UEFA Champions League final goals came as a 32-year-old against Juventus in 2017.
