Why Evergreen Vardy is On Track for a Premier League Top 10 Finish | 29 Jan 2025

Long-serving striker is again proving that age is just a number after scoring for Leicester at Spurs

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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.

Leicester City

20:30

Sat 01 Feb

EVE (A)

18:00

Sat 15 Feb

ARS (H)

01:30

Fri 21 Feb

BRE (H)

01:30

Thu 27 Feb

WHU (A)

19:30

Sun 09 Mar

CHE (A)

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).