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. When he scored the opening goal for Leicester City against Southampton on Saturday, he became the Premier League's ninth-oldest goalscorer at the age of 38 years and 112 days, overtaking former Blackburn Rovers star Tugay and ex-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 |
| Jamie Vardy | 38y 112d |
| Tugay | 38y 98d |
| Mick Harford | 38y 34d |
While Vardy won't be able to move up the oldest scorers' chart before the end of this season, Ashley Young would overtake second-placed Dean Windass with his next goal in the division.
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 is leading scorer after turning 30
Vardy has scored eight Premier League goals so far this season, extending an all-time record he already held in the competition - the most goals scored by a player after turning 30.
The Foxes striker has scored 110 times in the competition since his 30th birthday. Arsenal legend Ian Wright ranks second with 93 goals after reaching that age.
With 65 goals scored in his 30s, Mohamed Salah is well-placed to eventually overtake Teddy Sheringham's 77 and join Vardy in the top five, having recently signed a new contract to stay at Liverpool.
Player goals before and after age 30
| Player | Goals before 30 | Goals from 30+ |
| Jamie Vardy | 34 | 110 |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Wright | 20 | 93 |
| Alan Shearer | 176 | 84 |
| Frank Lampard | 95 | 82 |
| Teddy Sheringham | 69 | 77 |
| Mohamed Salah | 120 | 65 |
| Les Ferdinand | 92 | 57 |
| Didier Drogba | 47 | 57 |
| Paolo Di Canio | 12 | 54 |
| Andrew Cole | 136 | 51 |
| Gustavo Poyet | 4 | 50 |
Where Vardy ranks among all goalscorers
Vardy is also high on the all-time list of top Premier League scorers, regardless of age. He is now ranked joint-14th, with 144 goals, moving level with Robin van Persie. To enter the top 10 English scorers in the competition, Vardy needs another two goals to go level with Teddy Sheringham's tally of 146.
The only currently active players who are below Vardy and within 20 goals of his tally are Son Heung-min, with 127, and Raheem Sterling on 123.
Most goals in Premier League history
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Alan Shearer | 260 |
| Harry Kane | 213 |
| Wayne Rooney | 208 |
| Andrew Cole | 187 |
| Sergio Aguero | 184 |
| Mohamed Salah | 184 |
| Frank Lampard | 177 |
| Thierry Henry | 175 |
| Robbie Fowler | 163 |
| Jermain Defoe | 162 |
| Michael Owen | 150 |
| Les Ferdinand | 149 |
| Teddy Sheringham | 146 |
| Robin van Persie | 144 |
| Jamie Vardy | 144 |
| Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | 127 |
| Son Heung-min | 127 |
