By opening the scoring against Ajaccio (3-0 this Friday), Dante has become the oldest goalscorer in OGC Nice history!

After arriving at the Gym in the summer of 2016, CommanDante continues to push the limits. Six and a half years later, he has accumulated 229 games with the red and black club, far more than his 133 games with Bayern Munich or his 103 games with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

And at 39 years of age, the boss continues to improve his stats: in his 31st match of the season - he has only missed the trip to Auxerre due to suspension - the Brazilian scored his first goal of the season (the 7th with the red and black club). Like a striker, in the middle of the box, his left foot hit the target to open up a tricky match against the Corsicans in the third minute of play.

It was the first time that Capitão had scored since Nice - Nantes (2-1) in front of a very small crowd on 3 October 2020, in the middle of the Covid pandemic. One month after his first assist of the season (an assist for Thuram in the 6-1 win over Montpellier), Dante is still making his mark.

Indeed, at 39 years and 115 days, he has become OGC Nice's oldest goalscorer in the 21st century, ahead of another captain, Olivier Echouafni (37 years and 20 days in the 3-2 win over Valenciennes in 2009). Opta also notes that in Europe, the Gym captain is the oldest player to score in the five major European leagues this season. Finally, the official Ligue 1 website lists only five players older than him who have scored in the French top flight since the 1947-48 season: Roger Courtois (44 years old in 1956), Benjamin Nivet (41 years old in 2018), Salvador Artigas (40 years old in 1953), Jean-Antoine Redin (39 years and 260 days old in 1974) and Hilton (39 years and 147 days old in 2017).

TODIBO: "IT MAKES YOU RESPECT HIM"

When I saw the ball go into the net, I celebrated as if I were the scorer," said his team-mate Jean-Clair Todibo with a smile after the game. In the team, we were all very happy for Dante because he is the boss, he shows us the way by being extremely demanding and meticulous every day. To do what he is doing at 39 years of age is enormous. It makes you respect him, it's magic."

"He is like that every day. When he comes to training, he trains as if it were his first and last session," explained Didier Digard. It's an honour to be able to coach a player like him, whether it's because of the career he's had, or the one he still has. Playing at 39 is one thing, playing at this level is another."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!

On Instagram, the Brazilian international (13 caps) dedicated his goal to his grandmother: "She is 86 years old (on the day of the game) and I promised her I would score a goal as a present. I feel blessed to provide these emotions to the whole family."

 

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F.H.