Olivier Giroud continues to age like a fine wine with the veteran forward on target for Lille in Europe this week.
Giroud scored the early opener as Lille turned around their Europa League tie with Crvena zvezda, overturning a first-leg defeat to reach the Round of 16.
Giroud will celebrate his 40th birthday later this year but continues to perform at the highest level, having returned to European football from MLS outfit Los Angeles FC in the summer.
France’s all-time leading scorer has now scored 11 goals in major European competition since turning 35, an achievement only seven players have previously managed.
Among them include Real Madrid icons Alfredo Di Stefano (13), Cristiano Ronaldo (14) and Ferenc Puskas (18). Alongside Giroud, there are two players still active in European football on the list.
Robert Lewandowski and Edin Dzeko have each scored 16 goals in European competition since turning 35, with the former netting twice in this season’s Champions League. Dzeko departed Fiorentina for German second-tier side Schalke in January and is not currently playing in UEFA competition.
The player with the most major European competition goals after turning 35 is former Athletic Bilbao striker Artiz Aduriz. He was the top-scorer in the Europa League in 2017-18, with 11 goals, at the age of 37. Aduriz netted 19 UEFA competition goals after turning 35.
The players with the most goals in major European club competition after the age of 35Â
- Aritz Aduriz – 19
- Ferenc Puskás – 18
- Robert Lewandowski, Edin Dzeko – 16
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 14
- Alfredo Di St̩fano Р13
- Olivier Giroud – 11
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