Dante Sets New Record in Europa League at Age 41

A Long Journey Begins

When Dante kickstarted his football journey in 2002, the first iPhone had yet to hit the market, and the UEFA Cup was still its official title before it transformed into the Europa League.

An Enduring Career

Fast forward twenty-three years and seventeen generations of iPhones later, Dante remains active on the field. After a successful tenure in the Bundesliga, where he garnered multiple championships at both Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg, he joined French club OGC Nice in 2016.

A Remarkable Achievement

Dante continues to showcase his skills on the pitch today. Recently, during a Europa League clash with AS Roma, he achieved an astonishing milestone! At the impressive age of 41 years and 341 days, Dante became the oldest outfield player ever in the competition’s history.

Comparison with Other Players

The record for the oldest player still stands with Brad Friedel, the English goalkeeper, who played for Tottenham against Sheriff Tiraspol on November 7, 2013, at the age of 42 years and 173 days.

As a side note, being a central defender and chasing down opposing forwards is undoubtedly more demanding than the role of a goalkeeper stationed between the goalposts.

📸 VALERY HACHE – AFP or licensors