Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues to defy age and expectations. At 37 years and 79 days old, the Gabonese forward inspired Deportivo La Coruña to a dramatic 3-2 win at Villarreal on Saturday, scoring in his fourth consecutive LaLiga appearance since returning to Spanish football. It was a signature Aubameyang goal: he intercepted a loose defensive pass in midfield, surged into the box with the acceleration that has defined his career, and calmly slotted past the goalkeeper before celebrating with his trademark front flip.
Deportivo's Unbeaten Start
The victory at Villarreal was not simply another step in Aubameyang's personal scoring streak; it was a significant result for a club that spent two years away from the Spanish top flight. Deportivo, who earned automatic promotion from the Segunda División in 2023-24, have now taken eight points from their opening four matches — a remarkable return for a side widely expected to struggle. Aubameyang's contribution has been central to that success, with his four goals accounting for nearly half of the team's nine goals so far. His latest strike came at a crucial moment in a frenetic match, giving Deportivo a lead they would ultimately defend with resilience as Villarreal pushed for an equalizer.
Deportivo's coach, Antonio Hidalgo, did not hide his admiration after the match. 'What Aubameyang is doing is absolutely crazy,' Hidalgo said. 'He never misses a training session and works harder than anyone. He has a special talent.' The words reflected a broader belief within the club that the veteran striker could be the difference between relegation and survival. Hidalgo also acknowledged the long road ahead, adding, 'We're a little closer to survival. We're a newly promoted team, and this [season] is going to be long.'
A Historic Feat in LaLiga
Aubameyang's streak is not just noteworthy for its importance to Deportivo’s early-season form; it is also historic. At 37 years and 79 days, he became the oldest player to record a goal contribution in each of his first four LaLiga appearances for a single club since 2000. That feat underscores the remarkable longevity of a forward who was once considered one of Europe's most lethal strikers and who has reinvented himself in the autumn of his career.
Moreover, Aubameyang is the first player in LaLiga to score in the first four matches of a Spanish top-flight season since Jude Bellingham achieved the same for Real Madrid in the 2023-24 campaign. Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund as a 20-year-old, made a stunning start to his Spanish career, scoring in his first four league appearances. Comparisons between the two players may seem unlikely given their contrasting styles and career stages, but the fact that Aubameyang now shares this statistical niche with one of the world's most celebrated young midfielders only adds to the sense of wonder around his late-career resurgence.
The last time anyone had made such an explosive start to a season was Bellingham's remarkable introduction to Spanish football. The Englishman's four-game scoring run from late August to mid-September 2023 helped Real Madrid establish an early lead in the title race. Aubameyang's run carries extra weight because it is happening at a newly promoted club that is fighting for survival rather than competing for silverware. For Deportivo, these early goals are priceless.
Aubameyang's Long and Distinguished Career
To fully appreciate Aubameyang's achievement, it is worth looking back at the career that brought him to this point. Born in France to a Gabonese father and Spanish mother, Aubameyang began his professional journey in the youth system of AC Milan. After loan spells at Dijon, Lille and Saint-Étienne, he finally found a permanent home at Borussia Dortmund in 2013, where he developed into one of the most feared strikers in Europe. During his time in the Bundesliga, he scored over 140 goals and won the DFB-Pokal in 2017, finishing as the league's top scorer in 2016-17.
In January 2018, Aubameyang made a record move to Arsenal for a then club-record fee. Despite the turbulent nature of his final year in north London, he was instrumental in Arsenal's 2020 FA Cup triumph, scoring twice in the final against Chelsea and lifting a major trophy as captain. He also became Arsenal’s joint-fifth all-time leading scorer in European competition. However, disciplinary issues and a decline in form eventually led to his departure in January 2020, when he joined Barcelona on a free transfer.
At Barcelona, Aubameyang enjoyed a brief renaissance, scoring vital goals for the Catalan giants before moving on to Chelsea in September 2022. His time in London was less successful, as he struggled for consistency and playing time under different managers. A subsequent move to Marseille in 2023 offered another fresh start. In Ligue 1, Aubameyang reminded observers of his enduring quality, becoming Marseille's top scorer in the 2023-24 season and helping them reach the semi-finals of the Europa League. Still, when his contract expired, Marseille chose not to renew it, leaving the striker searching for another opportunity.
That opportunity came from Deportivo La Coruña, a club with a proud history but recent years in the lower divisions. For Aubameyang, this move represented a chance to play regularly again in one of Europe's major leagues while also continuing to prove that his scoring instincts had not abandoned him. The early evidence suggests he has found a fitting environment, one where his experience and professionalism are valued as much as his goals.
Deportivo's Return to the Elite
Deportivo's presence in LaLiga this season was far from guaranteed. The club, based in the Galician city of A Coruña, was once a fixture in Spanish football's top flight, winning the league title in 2000 and regularly competing in European competitions under the leadership of coaches such as Javier Irureta. Yet a long decline saw the club drop to the third tier as recently as 2020-21, and their return to the Segunda División was followed by three seasons of struggle until, at last, they secured automatic promotion by finishing second in 2023-24.
For supporters accustomed to the highs of the early 2000s, this season represents a chance to restore some pride. The board's decision to sign a player of Aubameyang's pedigree was seen as a statement of intent, though there were doubts about his age and whether he could adapt to the physicality and pace of LaLiga once again. Aubameyang had, after all, played for Barcelona and then moved on less than a year later, leading some to question his ability to settle anywhere for long.
Those doubts have been quickly dispelled. In his first match for Deportivo, Aubameyang scored in a draw that signaled the club's intent. He followed that with another goal in a hard-fought victory, then another in a tense match where Deportivo had to dig deep. Each goal has carried a different weight, but all have demonstrated that he remains a player who can change the course of a game with a single moment.
What Makes Him Special at 37?
Observers have often cited Aubameyang's extraordinary physical condition as a reason for his longevity. His speed works remarkably well for a player in his late thirties, and his chiseled physique allows him to make repeated sprints beyond opposing defensive lines. Hidalgo, however, points to something less visible: his work ethic. In training, Aubameyang has set a standard that younger teammates struggle to match. He is often the first to arrive and the last to leave, tirelessly working on finishing, movement and leadership. That professionalism has earned the respect of a dressing room that needed a figure to rally around.
The front flip celebration, once a symbol of his youthful exuberance, now seems all the more remarkable: a player old enough to be a father figure to many teammates leaping with the joy of a teenager scoring his first goal. It is a sight that has become familiar to viewers of LaLiga this season, and it may well be repeated many times before the campaign ends.
Looking Ahead
Deportivo's fixture list does not get easier. After their triumph against Villarreal, they will face a series of tests against established top-flight opponents, and injuries or suspensions could still expose their lack of squad depth. But the team will take confidence from their unbeaten start, knowing they have a player in their ranks who can turn draws into wins and defeats into narrow losses. Aubameyang's ability to score against any defence, at any venue, is a rare commodity for a side hoping to avoid the bottom three.
For the player himself, this spell at Deportivo is about more than mere statistics. It is an opportunity to end his career on his own terms, with meaningful minutes and a central role. While he has not ruled out international football entirely, his selection in recent squads for Gabon has been sporadic. At club level, though, he remains indispensable. His form has also rekindled discussions about whether he could have achieved even more had he joined a bigger club or made a different move at various points in his career. Yet those discussions miss the point: Aubameyang is still playing, still scoring and still defying expectations at an age when most forwards have long retired.
His latest goal against Villarreal was a reminder that, even after playing for some of Europe's biggest clubs, a striker can find renewed purpose in a smaller challenge. The roar of the Deportivo fans, the trust of the coach and the spotlight of LaLiga have all combined to create an environment where Aubameyang is thriving. If he can keep scoring, Deportivo may well avoid the immediate return to the second division that many predicted. As Hidalgo noted, the season is long, but early signs indicate that the Aubameyang gamble is paying off in remarkable fashion.
Source: MSN News