Who is the oldest player to score in the Euros?

Carlo Garganese
Carlo Garganese
  • 5 Jul 2024 22:55 BST
  • 4 min read
Luka Modric, Croatia, 2023/24
© IMAGO

Luka Modric is the oldest player to score in the history of the European Championship.

Modric was 38 years and 289 days old when he scored for Croatia against Italy at Euro 2024.

The midfielder finished off a ridiculous sequence he himself started by having a penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The Italian shot-stopper made two incredible saves but was ultimately powerless to prevent Modric from breaking Ivica Vastic's record.

Former Austria striker Vastic had held the record for 16 years after scoring a 93rd-minute penalty in a 1-1 draw with Poland at Euro 2008, aged 38 years and 257 days.

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Luka Modric
© IMAGO - Luka Modric

READ MORE: The 10 best European Championship transfers of all time

Cristiano Ronaldo had the chance to break the record by scoring at Euro 2024. However, the Portuguese megastar exited the tournament without a single strike to his name after being knocked out on penalties by France in the quarter-final.

Ronaldo was 39 years and 127 days when Portugal played their first game at the Euros against the Czech Republic in Group F.

Ronaldo played his first European Championship finals match back in Euro 2004 at the age of just 19.

He scored two goals in the tournament and has since gone on to become the top international goalscorer of all time, also winning the European Championship in 2016.

READ MORE: The five worst European Championship transfers of all time

Who is the oldest footballer to score in the European Championship?

Luka Modric is the oldest footballer to score in the European Championship. H was 38 years and 289 days old when he scored for Croatia against Italy at Euro 2024 on June 24, 2024.

Ivica Vastic is the second-oldest footballer to score in the European Championship. He was 38 years and 257 days when he scored for Austria against Poland at Euro 2008 on June 12, 2008.

Goran Pandev is the third-oldest footballer in the history of the Euros. He was 37 years and 321 days when he scored for North Macedonia against Austria at Euro 2020 on June 13, 2021.

Top 10 oldest Euros scorers

PlayerAgeMatch/Date
Luka Modric38 years, 289 daysCROATIA v Italy: Euro 2024
Ivica Vastic38 years, 257 daysAUSTRIA v Poland: Euro 2008
Goran Pandev37 years, 321 daysAustria v NORTH MACEDONIA: Euro 2020
Zoltan Gera37 years, 61 daysHUNGARY v Portugal: Euro 2016
Gareth McAuley36 years, 194 daysUkraine v N.IRELAND: Euro 2016
Cristiano Ronaldo36 years, 138 daysPORTUGAL v France: Euro 2020
Andriy Shevchenko35 years, 256 daysUKRAINE v Sweden: Euro 2012
Giorgos Karagounis35 years, 102 daysGREECE v Russia: Euro 2012
Jan Koller35 years, 77 daysTurkey v CZECH REPUBLIC: Euro 2008
Christian Panucci35 years, 62 daysITALY v Romania: Euro 2008

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