I’m not stopping at 40 - Pierre Aubameyang vows Ronaldo-like longevity

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has no intention of retiring soon. Photo/Imago

I’m not stopping at 40 - Pierre Aubameyang vows Ronaldo-like longevity

Joel Omotto 11:21 - 23.03.2025

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is looking to play into his 40s even as he eyes victory against Harambee Stars in Nairobi on Sunday.

Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has no intention of retiring from football anytime soon even as he looks to fire his country to victory over Kenya.

Aubameyang is among the Gabon squad that is Nairobi for their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Harambee Stars on Sunday and as he is looking for success, he also wants to play for much longer.

At 35, many players would be considering retirement, with others even hanging up their boots, but Aubameyang believes he still has plenty of time, hence no need to think about retirement.

“Age is just a number, players play until 40, 41 and I am only 35. I still have time and I feel good and that is the most important,” the former Arsenal captain told the media in Nairobi on Saturday.

“As long as I still feel healthy, I will play my game and try do give my best always.”

Aubameyang is looking to help his country qualify for the World Cup for the first time in their history and if that happens, he will be 37at next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

That would make him one of the oldest players at the tournament but he will have many others in a similar position with Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be 41 in 2026, also eyeing his sixth World Cup.

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To do that, Gabon will have to either finish top in Group F, where they are second on 12 points from five matches, one behind leaders Ivory Coast, or second and seal their place via the playoff.

“[To qualify for World Cup] That would be something crazy and amazing and obviously it has never happened before so it is a big target for us to try to go to the World Cup. I think it would be my best dream and hopefully I will achieve it.”

Aubameyang, whose career has taken him to AC Milan, Saint-Etienne, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Marseille and now Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, is Gabon’s all-time top scorer with 33 goals from 80 matches.