Experienced players in the Premier League love to lend proof to the phrase "age is just a number" and boost belief in the abilities of seasoned veterans, regardless of the dates on their birth certificates.
Jamie Vardy is one such player who continues to compete at the top level in the latter years of his career. Aged 38 years and 15 days, he netted his seventh goal of the season in Leicester City's 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur. As well as equalising for the Foxes, his strike made him the 11th-oldest Premier League scorer.
If Vardy finds the net in any of Leicester's league matches from 15 February, he will move into the Premier League's top 10 oldest scorers ahead of former Wimbledon striker Mick Harford.
Oldest Premier League goalscorers
| Player | Age |
| Teddy Sheringham | 40y 268d |
|---|---|
| Dean Windass | 39y 235d |
| Thiago Silva | 39y 198d |
| Ashley Young | 39y 148d |
| Ryan Giggs | 39y 86d |
| Stuart Pearce | 38y 215d |
| Graham Alexander | 38y 182d |
| Mark Hughes | 38y 149d |
| Tugay | 38y 98d |
| Mick Harford | 38y 34d |
| Jamie Vardy | 38y 15d |
Vardy thriving in his 30s
Vardy’s strike at Spurs also extended an all-time Premier League record he already holds - the most goals scored by a player aged 30 or over.
The Foxes striker has now netted 109 times in the competition since his 30th birthday. Arsenal legend Ian Wright ranks second with 93 goals after reaching that age.
Player goals before and after age 30
| Player | Goals before age 30 | Goals from age 30+ |
| Jamie Vardy | 34 | 109 |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Wright | 20 | 93 |
| Alan Shearer | 176 | 84 |
| Frank Lampard | 95 | 82 |
| Teddy Sheringham | 69 | 77 |
| Les Ferdinand | 92 | 57 |
| Didier Drogba | 47 | 57 |
| Mohamed Salah | 120 | 56 |
| Paolo Di Canio | 12 | 54 |
| Andrew Cole | 136 | 51 |
| Gustavo Poyet | 4 | 50 |
Where Vardy ranks among all goalscorers
Vardy is also climbing the all-time list of top Premier League scorers, regardless of age. He is currently ranked 15th, with 143 goals in the competition, and is only seven strikes away from becoming the 12th player to reach 150.
Most goals in Premier League history
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Alan Shearer | 260 |
| Harry Kane | 213 |
| Wayne Rooney | 208 |
| Andrew Cole | 187 |
| Sergio Aguero | 184 |
| Frank Lampard | 177 |
| Mohamed Salah | 176 |
| Thierry Henry | 175 |
| Robbie Fowler | 163 |
| Jermain Defoe | 162 |
| Michael Owen | 150 |
| Les Ferdinand | 149 |
| Teddy Sheringham | 146 |
| Robin van Persie | 144 |
| Jamie Vardy | 143 |
When could Vardy score his next goal?
After Saturday's trip to Everton, in what could be viewed as a six-pointer in the relegation battle, Leicester will face four London clubs in a row - hosting Arsenal and Brentford, then visiting West Ham United and Chelsea.
Vardy isn't the only player who could still move up the oldest scorers' ranks before the end of this season. Ashley Young will overtake third-placed Thiago Silva with his next goal in the division.
That could happen as soon as this Saturday, when, aged 39 years and 207 days, Young will hope to play against Vardy's Leicester. However, the Everton full-back's last Premier League goal - against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 4 December - was scored more than two years after his previous one, at Nottingham Forest in October 2022.
Vardy will reach ninth in the list of oldest scorers, above Tugay, if he scores after 19 April. Leicester's remaining 2024/25 matches will then be Wolves (H), Southampton (H), Forest (A), Ipswich Town (H) and AFC Bournemouth (A).
