Top 10 oldest goalscorers in the history of La Liga

These players prove that age is just a number.

Football is often considered a young man’s game. Barring goalkeepers, players are considered to be past their heyday once they reach their early 30s. However there are always a few exceptions.

The following players proved that age is just a number, as they went on to not just perform but also score goals well into their late 30s. Here is look at the 10 oldest goalscorers in La Liga history.

10. Aritz Aduriz

The prolific Spanish goalscorer spent the majority of his career at Athletic Bilbao, scoring 172 goals for the Basque club. He also has more than a 100 La Liga goals to his name.

His last goal in the league was against La Liga giants FC Barcelona, where he scored the only goal in Bilbao’s 1-0 win. The forward was 38 years, six months and five days old at the time of scoring.

9. Larbi Benbarek

Larbi Benbarek was the original bearer of the title "Black Pearl." The French-Moroccan is considered to be the first successful footballer of colour in Europe. He spent most of his career at Atletico Madrid and helped them win La Liga in 1950 and 1951.

The midfielder scored his last goal in La Liga for Atletico Madrid at the age of 38 years, six months and 19 days in a 2-3 loss against Athletic Bilbao.

8. Ferenc Puskas

A legend of the game who needs no introduction. The Hungarian and Real Madrid forward scored goals for fun, both at the club and International level and is considered to be one of the greatest of all-time.

His last goal in La Liga was in a Real Madrid shirt and came in a 2-1 defeat against Sevilla. The striker was 38 years, seven months and 19 days old at the time of scoring.

7. Dani Alves

Dani Alves has won everything there is to win in club football and is one of the most decorated players in the world right now. The right-back has won multiple La Liga titles and Champions Leagues in his first stint with FC Barcelona. The Brazilian is now back for a second stint and showed that he has still got it in his stellar performance against Atletico Madrid.

Alves managed to cap his performance with a brilliant goal in FC Barcelona’s 4-2 win against Atletico Madrid. The defender was 38 years and nine months old when he scored the goal.

6. Jose Araquistain

Jose Araquistain is the only goalkeeper to feature in this list. Although he spent the majority of his career at Real Madrid and won multiple La Liga trophies, the Spaniard scored his only La Liga goal for his boyhood club Real Sociedad at the age of 38 years, 11 months and 12 days. The veteran scored the winner in a 2-1 success against Sporting Gijon.

5. Joaquin

Another player who’s still playing in La Liga, Joaquin is the current captain of Real Betis. The right winger’s goal against Alaves on 8 March, 2021 moved him to the fifth position on this list.

At the age of 39 years, seven months and 15 days, Joaquin scored the equalizer to make it 2-2 against Deportivo Alaves in a match that Real Betis eventually won 3-2.

4. Alfredo Di Stefano

This Real Madrid legend needs little introduction, as he is considered to be one of the greatest of all-time in football. The forward netted 216 goals for Real Madrid and managed to collect many accolades along the way.

His final La Liga goal however came while representing Espanyol in a 1-1 draw against Real Mallorca. The striker scored the equalizer for Espanyol and was at the age of 39 years, seven months and 16 days at the time.

3. Cesar Rodriguez

One of the many notable names associated with FC Barcelona. Cesar Rodriguez was the club's highest goalscorer for several decades before a certain Lionel Messi overtook him.

He ended his career at Elche, where he also scored his last La Liga goal at the age of 39 years, nine months and four days on 10th April, 1960. Rodriguez scored the opening goal (from the penalty spot) n a seven-goal thriller against Atletico Madrid, which Atletico won 4-3.

2. Jorge Molina

Jorge Molina is still going strong in La Liga at the age of 39 as he fills up the forward position at Granada. On 3rd April 2022, Granada drew with Rayo Vallecano and Molina scored, as they came from two goals down.

The striker was at the age of 39 years and eleven months when he scored the goal. Considering that the forward is still playing, it won’t be a surprise if he manages to move further up this list.

1. Donato

On May 17, 2003, Spanish defensive midfielder Donato represented Deportivo La Coruna in a 1-2 defeat against Valencia. The midfielder was 40 years, four months and 17 days of age when he scored the goal, making him the oldest goalscorer in La Liga history.

Donato was part of the prestigious Deportivo team of the early 2000s who were also referred to as the "Super Depors" and managed to win several major trophies with them, including La Liga in 2000.

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