{"id":95766,"date":"2023-11-08T01:25:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T01:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/?p=95766"},"modified":"2023-11-08T01:25:24","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T01:25:24","slug":"pepe-becomes-oldest-player-to-score-in-champions-league-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/soccer\/pepe-becomes-oldest-player-to-score-in-champions-league-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Pepe becomes oldest player to score in Champions League history"},"content":{"rendered":"
Pepe became the oldest Champions League scorer in history with his last-gasp goal against Antwerp in Porto’s 2-0 win over the Belgian title winners.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He is the first player over the age of 40 to net in the competition.<\/p>\n
At the ripe old age of 40 years and 254 days, he scored more than two decades after his first goal, which came for Maritimo on November 9 2002.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The goal itself was a typical Pepe cameo in the box, getting his head on a cross six yards out and powering past the goalkeeper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His goal sealed a crucial win which kept Porto second in their Champions League group and three points ahead of third-placed Shakhtar Donestk after their 1-0 win over Barcelona.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pepe’s late header against Antwerp made him the oldest scorer in Champions League history<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Also the outfield oldest player ever in the competition, his first professional goal came in 2022<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pepe is in the sixth season of his second spell at Porto, having played there from 2004 to 2007<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He has won 28 trophies in his career, a stunning record that few modern players can match\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pepe has enjoyed two games for the history books against Antwerp this season, much to their chagrin.<\/p>\n
On matchday three, he became the oldest outfield player ever to play in the Champions League in a 4-1 win, and now his goal has helped to knock them out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since he started out for Maritimo, Pepe has had a magnificent career.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He signed for Porto in May 2004, not long before they sealed a league, domestic cup, and Champions League Treble under Jose Mourinho, but did not feature in the EUropean final against Monaco.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Spells with Real Madrid and Besitkas have complemented his stints in Portugal and brought him boundless success.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With Madrid, he won three Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, two Copa de Reys, two Supercopa, two FIFA Club World Cups, and a UEFA Super Cup.<\/p>\n
On the international stage, he has amassed 134 appearances for Portugal and lifted the 2016 European Championships with them, as well as the 2018\/19 Nations League.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a career spanning 714 appearances and 28 trophies won, he has developed a reputation as one of Europe’s craftiests and most reliable defenders, and is still producing the goods today.\u00a0<\/p>\n