Aritz Aduriz might not be well known to fans on these shores, but he’s just become the answer to the ultimate pub quiz question.
Depsite more than a century of La Liga goals, the Spanish striker’s international career has never really taken off.
He received his first cap back in 2010 when he replaced Fernando Llorente late in a 3-1 victory over Lithuania, but had to wait five and a half years for his second chance on the international stage.
Aduriz was named in Spain’s starting line-up for Thursday night’s 1-1 draw with Italy, and in the process he surpassed the legendary Ferenc Puskás as the oldest player to ever make his first start for the Spanish national side.
Oldest players in their 1st starting XII for Spain: (yy-ddd)
35-042 ADURIZ
34-224 Puskás
32-338 Engonga
32-166 Javi Navarro
32-076 Jáuregui— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) March 24, 2016
At 35-years-old, the Athletic Club Bilbao forward is almost as old as the 55-year-old record itself, which was set by Puskás in 1961.
The former Real Madrid striker was Hungarian but made four appearances for the Spanish national side after he qualified through residency just in time for the 1962 World Cup.
But unlike Puskás – who failed to score in any of his appearances for Spain – Arduriz found the back of the net on Thursday night.
