Cristiano Ronaldo drops to sixth place in list of 10 oldest scorers at European Championships as Luka Modric sets new record
Luka Modric scored a historic goal for Croatia to send Cristiano Ronaldo down to sixth place in the list of the oldest goalscorers in European Championship history. The Real Madrid midfielder became the oldest player to score a goal at the European Championship after finding the net against Italy on Monday.
The Veteran Croatian midfielder is one of the oldest players at Euro 2024 and became the outright oldest goalscorer in the tournament's history. Modric, aged 38 years and 289 days, struck against Italy shortly after missing a penalty to eclipse the record of Ivica Vastic, which has stood since 2008.
Ronaldo has yet to find the net in this edition of the competition, last scoring aged 36 years and 138 days against France at Euro 2020.
At 39 years of age, Cristiano Ronaldo is the second-oldest player in the competition and could still break the record for the oldest goalscorer in the tournament's history. A similar argument can be made for defender Pepe, who, at 41, is still a rock at the back for Portugal and is the oldest player to ever appear in the competition.
The ten oldest scorers in European Championship history have all scored in the 21st century, particularly from Euro 2008 onwards. The list is as per official UEFA records.
Luka Modrić 38 years, 289 days (Euro 2024)
Ivica Vastic 38 years, 257 days (Euro 2008)
Goran Pandev 37 years, 321 days (Euro 2020)
Zoltán Gera 37 years, 61 days (Euro 2016)
Gareth McAuley 36 years, 194 days (Euro 2016)
Cristiano Ronaldo 36 years, 138 days (Euro 2020)
Andriy Shevchenko 35 years, 256 days (Euro 2012)
Giorgos Karagounis 35 years, 102 days (Euro 2012)
Jan Koller 35 years, 77 days (Euro 2008)
Christian Panucci 35 years, 62 days (Euro 2008)
Cristiano Ronaldo and Modric are the only active players on this list.
Luka Modric's Croatia facing Euro 2024 elimination after Italy draw
Luka Modric may crash out of the group stage of what is likely his last international tournament after Croatia failed to win against Italy. Needing three points to progress following a defeat to Spain and a draw against Albania, Croatia could only manage a 1-1 draw against Italy.
Modric opened the scoring for the 2022 World Cup bronze medallists in the second half after having seen Gianluigi Donnarumma save his penalty. His side held on in the face of wave after wave of Italian attacks before caving in the 98th minute.
Mattia Zaccagni curled home a sumptuous equalizer for the Azzurri, sending them through to the next round in second place. Croatia, meanwhile, will have to wait until the end of the group phase to see if they progress as one of the best third-placed teams.