All Hail Europa League Goal King Aubameyang!

BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Gabon National Football team captain and Olympique de Marseille forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has become Europa League’s all-time leading goalscorer after finding the net against Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.

Played at Orange Velodrome stadium, Marseille city, France on Thursday, the match was one of the UEFA Europa League knockout stage fixtures.

The former Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Chelsea and FC Barcelona striker becomes the competition’s all-time top scorer with his record 31 strikes against opposing teams in Europe’s second tier tournament.

Left unmarked in the box, Aubameyang scored after 23 minutes as Marseille responded to Shakhtar’s 12th penalty that was converted by Heorhiy Sudakov.  The Gabonese was played through on goal by midfielder Amine Harriet, and he finished coolly into the bottom corner to set a brand new record. 

With this feat, no player has scored more Europa League goals than the Gabonese jewel. Before now, he was on level terms with former Manchester United striker, Radamel Falcao, both having scored 30 goals while featuring for various teams in the competition.

The record stretches back only to 2009, when the UEFA Cup was rebranded. However, he is currently level with the UEFA Cup’s leading goalscorer, Sweden icon Henrik Larsson.

Going down memory lane, the Gabonese football legend’s strikes in the Europa League came while plying his trade for different club sides.

It is on record that he scored 14 goals for Arsenal; eight (8) goals for Borussia Dortmund; two (2) for Barcelona, and so far seven (7) for Marseille. His goal on Thursday helped the Ligue 1 club to triumph 3-1 on the night, with a 5-3 aggregate victory.

With the successful execution of their Europa League clash against Shakhtar, the French side will on Sunday face Montpellier in Ligue 1. Currently, they are disappointingly placed ninth (9th) on the league table.

Born Pierre-Emerick Emiliano François Aubameyang on 18 June 1989 in Laval, France, the 34-year-old serves as captain for the Gabon national team.

In his prime, Aubameyang was widely considered as one of the best forwards in the world for his quick pace, finishing, and off-the-ball movement.