Who are the oldest players to appear in a UEFA Champions League final?
The statistics in this article cover the UEFA Champions League era only (1992-93 season onwards)
Plenty of footballing legends have featured on the biggest club stage in Europe, the UEFA Champions League final in the latter stages of their careers.
As it stands, just one player has ever appeared in the UEFA Champions League final at the age of 40, whilst six have played in Europe’s biggest club fixture at 38 years of age or older.
Oldest players to feature in a UEFA Champions League final (1992-93 onwards)
Name | Nationality | Team | Season | Age (year) | Age (days) | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Edwin van der Sar | Netherlands | Manchester United | 2010/11 | 40 | 211 | FC Barcelona |
Gianluigi Buffon | Italy | Juventus | 2016/17 | 39 | 126 | Real Madrid C.F. |
Paolo Maldini | Italy | AC Milan | 2006/07 | 38 | 331 | Liverpool FC |
Luka Modrić | Croatia | Real Madrid C.F. | 2023/24 | 38 | 266 | Borussia Dortmund |
Edwin van der Sar | Netherlands | Manchester United | 2008/09 | 38 | 210 | FC Barcelona |
Lothar Matthäus | Germany | FC Bayern München | 1998/99 | 38 | 66 | Manchester United |
Edwin van der Sar | Netherlands | Manchester United | 2007/08 | 37 | 205 | Chelsea FC |
Ryan Giggs | Wales | Manchester United | 2010/11 | 37 | 180 | FC Barcelona |
Gianluigi Buffon | Italy | Juventus | 2014/15 | 37 | 129 | FC Barcelona |
Francesco Acerbi | Italy | Inter Milan | 2024/25 | 37 | 110 | Paris Saint-Germain |
Edin Džeko | Bosnia-Herzegovina | Inter Milan | 2022/23 | 37 | 85 | Manchester City |
Data is current up to and including the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League final
Two goalkeepers dominate the list, with Edwin van der Sar at the very top of it. The Dutch stopper made three UEFA Champions League final appearances for Manchester United at the age of 37 or older, with his last coming in 2011, making him the first and only player to ever play in UEFA Champions League final at 40 years old.
Also on the list more than once is Juventus and Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon, who appeared between the posts for Juve in three finals, all of which they lost. Two of those appearances were made whilst goalkeeper Buffon was 37 or older, with his last coming at age 39 in 2017.
The oldest outfield player to appear in a Champions League final as it stands is former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini, who started for the Rossoneri at the age of 38 years and 331 days against Liverpool in 2007.
