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Football fans often marvel at the sheer unpredictability of the goalkeeping position. While outfield players typically thrive between their mid-twenties and early thirties, goalkeepers can stretch their careers far beyond that window. Some make professional debuts while still teenagers, while others keep playing until their mid-forties.
This strange blend of youthful opportunity and ageless longevity has produced some of the most fascinating records in football history. Across Europe’s top five leagues, the oldest and youngest goalkeepers have carved unique places in the game — some becoming legends, others remembered only for their records.
Here, we count down from 5 (England’s Premier League) to 1 (Italy’s Serie A), uncovering the stories of the youngest debutants and the most durable veterans.
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5. Premier League (England)
Oldest: John Burridge (43 Years, 5 Months, 11 Days)
When it comes to the English top flight, no one has lasted longer than John “Budgie” Burridge. Renowned for his eccentric character and unmatched loyalty to the game, Burridge played for a staggering 29 clubs over his career, including 18 in the Football League.
At Manchester City, he set the Premier League record as the oldest goalkeeper at 43 years, 5 months, and 11 days. Despite challenges from long-serving keepers like Mark Schwarzer (42) and Brad Friedel (42), no one has dethroned Burridge.
Youngest: Neil Finn (17 Years, 0 Months, 3 Days)
At the other extreme, Neil Finn became the youngest goalkeeper to ever play in the Premier League. In January 1996, West Ham United faced an emergency, with both senior keepers unavailable. Finn, barely 17, was thrown in against Manchester City.
Although his top-flight career ended after that solitary appearance, he remains etched into Premier League history as one of the ultimate oldest and youngest goalkeepers cases.
4. La Liga (Spain)
Oldest: Ricardo (41 Years, 5 Months, 2 Days)
La Liga’s record-holder is Ricardo López Felipe, more simply known as Ricardo. After retiring, he was forced back into action with Osasuna as an emergency goalkeeper. In May 2013, against Real Madrid, he set the record at 41 years, 5 months, and 2 days before finally hanging up his gloves.
He became the second-oldest player ever in the league at the time, surpassed only by Englishman Harry Lowe in the 1930s.
Youngest: Rivero (17 Years, 6 Months, 25 Days)
The youngest debutant is Rivero, who played for Athletic Bilbao in March 1943 during World War II. Just 17 years, 6 months, and 25 days old, Rivero even lifted the La Liga title that season.
He went on to play only 21 top-flight matches, but his name lives on as the league’s youngest goalkeeper. Modern challengers like Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina, and Rubén Blanco came close, but none broke Rivero’s record.
3. Bundesliga (Germany)
Oldest: Uli Stein (42 Years, 5 Months, 19 Days)
In Germany, Uli Stein holds the honor. With over 650 appearances and a career spanning 27 years, Stein’s longevity was legendary. He played for West Germany in the 1986 World Cup, though controversy often followed him.
At 42 years, 5 months, and 19 days, he became the Bundesliga’s oldest goalkeeper.
Youngest: Jürgen Friedl (17 Years, 0 Months, 26 Days)
On the other hand, Jürgen Friedl debuted at only 17 years and 26 days for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1970s. Unlike Stein, Friedl’s career was fleeting, with just three Bundesliga appearances before leaving professional football.
Other youthful keepers who made their marks in the Bundesliga include Oliver Kahn (18), Marc-André ter Stegen (18), and Bernd Leno (19).
2. Ligue 1 (France)
Oldest: Gianluigi Buffon (41 Years, 3 Months, 26 Days)
Few names embody goalkeeping greatness like Gianluigi Buffon. After dominating in Italy, Buffon enjoyed a short spell with Paris Saint-Germain in 2018/19. In his final Ligue 1 appearance against Reims, he became the league’s oldest goalkeeper at 41 years, 3 months, and 26 days.
Although his time in France was brief, Buffon still added another record to his extraordinary resume.
Youngest: Alban Lafont (16 Years, 10 Months, 5 Days)
The opposite end of the spectrum is represented by Alban Lafont, who debuted for Toulouse in 2015 at just 16 years, 10 months, and 5 days. He immediately impressed, helping his team avoid relegation.
Now in his mid-20s, Lafont already has over 230 Ligue 1 appearances, proving his early start was no fluke.
1. Serie A (Italy)
Oldest: Marco Ballotta (44 Years, 1 Month, 8 Days)
Italy’s Serie A is home to some of the greatest keepers in history, but the record for longevity belongs to Marco Ballotta. With a career spanning more than 26 years and 600 appearances, Ballotta broke Dino Zoff’s record in 2005 and continued until retiring in 2008 at 44 years, 1 month, and 8 days.
His career was unconventional but remarkable, showing that greatness sometimes emerges late in life.
Youngest: Gianluca Pacchiarotti (16 Years, 6 Months, 8 Days)
Surprisingly, the youngest goalkeeper in Serie A is not Donnarumma but Gianluca Pacchiarotti. In March 1980, he debuted for Roma at just 16 years, 6 months, and 8 days. Though he only played once in Serie A, his record still stands.
Pacchiarotti spent much of his career in lower divisions but is remembered for conceding Diego Maradona’s first Napoli goal.
Comparative Table of Records
| League | Oldest Goalkeeper | Age | Youngest Goalkeeper | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | John Burridge | 43 Years, 5 Months, 11 Days | Neil Finn | 17 Years, 0 Months, 3 Days |
| La Liga | Ricardo | 41 Years, 5 Months, 2 Days | Rivero | 17 Years, 6 Months, 25 Days |
| Bundesliga | Uli Stein | 42 Years, 5 Months, 19 Days | Jürgen Friedl | 17 Years, 0 Months, 26 Days |
| Ligue 1 | Gianluigi Buffon | 41 Years, 3 Months, 26 Days | Alban Lafont | 16 Years, 10 Months, 5 Days |
| Serie A | Marco Ballotta | 44 Years, 1 Month, 8 Days | Gianluca Pacchiarotti | 16 Years, 6 Months, 8 Days |
From Burridge’s eccentric twilight years in England to Pacchiarotti’s teenage debut in Italy, the stories of the oldest and youngest goalkeepers across Europe’s top five leagues underline the uniqueness of the position. Some — like Buffon and Ballotta — became icons of endurance, while others, like Neil Finn or Rivero, are remembered mainly for their precocious debuts.
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These examples show that goalkeeping is a position unlike any other in football. Whether it’s a teenager thrust unexpectedly into the spotlight or a veteran refusing to bow out gracefully, the goalkeeper’s story is always one of resilience, unpredictability, and fascination.
FAQ
Who is the oldest goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues?
The oldest is Marco Ballotta, who played in Serie A until the age of 44 years, 1 month, and 8 days for Lazio.
Who is the youngest goalkeeper to ever debut in these leagues?
That honor goes to Gianluca Pacchiarotti, who debuted in Serie A at just 16 years, 6 months, and 8 days.
Has Gianluigi Buffon held age records in multiple leagues?
Yes. Buffon is the oldest goalkeeper in Ligue 1 (41 years, 3 months, 26 days) and also one of the oldest in Serie A, though not the record-holder there.