Dayro Moreno scores a Brace at 40. Image: VSports Team shared via X.
(The Post News)– Dayro Moreno reaches another milestone in a career defined by goals, longevity, and an almost defiant refusal to slow down. For most footballers, turning 40 signals the end of the football road.
On the eve of his 40th birthday, the Once Caldas legend scored twice in the Copa Sudamericana, extending his tally to 10 goals in 12 matches in this year’s competition. The brace not only secured victory for Los Albos but also cemented Moreno’s position as the tournament’s top scorer, once again putting Colombian football on the continental map. Chants of “Yo Soy Roble,” a nickname meaning “I am oak,” symbolizing strength and resilience, echoed around the Estadio Palogrande as fans celebrated a striker who continues to carry their hopes like he did two decades ago.
Moreno’s story with Once Caldas began in the early 2000s, when he emerged as a promising young forward in Manizales. He played a pivotal role in the club’s historic 2004 Copa Libertadores triumph, scoring crucial goals that helped the small Colombian side stun the continent’s giants and lift South America’s most prestigious club trophy.
Moreno’s Global Career
That success catapulted him into the global spotlight. Spells in Brazil, Romania, Mexico, and Argentina followed, where Moreno showcased his sharp instincts, powerful shot, and uncanny ability to find space in the box. Clubs such as Club Tijuana, Talleres, Junior, and Atletico Nacional all benefited from his relentless hunger for goals.
Moreno, however, always found his way back to Once Caldas, the club that shaped him, trusted him, and embraced his firebrand personality. Strikers often rely on pace and physicality, qualities that fade with age. Despite travels, Moreno has adapted his game to remain lethal.
No longer the tireless runner of his youth, he now thrives on positioning, anticipation, and experience. His two goals in the latest Sudamericana match were quintessential Dayro. The first was a predatory strike inside the box, the second a composed finish that punished defensive hesitation.
“Dayro has reinvented himself. At 40, he reads the game better than ever. He is an example to our young players of what discipline and love for the game can achieve,” said Once Caldas manager Hernán Darío Herrera. Moreno’s career statistics are staggering across nearly two decades. He has amassed over 320 career goals in club and international football. A reputation as one of the most consistent Colombian strikers of his generation.
His Sudamericana tally this season, 10 goals in just 12 matches, puts him ahead of younger stars across South America. More impressively, he is doing it against defenses stacked with players almost half his age.
Controversies Around Moreno’s Career
Dayro Moreno’s career has not been without controversy. Known for his fiery temperament, he has clashed with teammates, managers, and officials throughout the years. His time at Atlético Nacional, for example, ended abruptly after disciplinary issues overshadowed his on-field brilliance.
Moreno has always found redemption where it matters most: on the pitch. Once Caldas, his footballing home, has often provided the environment where his talent shines brightest and his flaws are forgiven in the glow of goals. Perhaps Moreno’s most significant legacy will be the good example he sets for younger Colombian players. His longevity in a physically demanding sport underscores the value of resilience, adaptability, and passion.
At training, he reportedly spends extra time guiding Once Caldas’ academy strikers, sharing insights on movement, finishing, and mental toughness. Learning from a man who once lifted the Copa Libertadores and still dominates continental football is priceless.
As Once Caldas push deeper into the Copa Sudamericana, much will depend on Dayro Moreno’s boots. His form suggests that he could yet fire Los Albos into the latter stages, a remarkable feat for both player and club. Moreno told reporters that he is happy to keep scoring and helping the team. “Age is just a number. As long as I feel strong and enjoy football, I’ll keep playing,” he said.
At nearly 40, Dayro Moreno embodies the spirit of Colombian football: passionate, relentless, and unyielding. He has carried his nation’s flag abroad and returned home to inspire his boyhood club. Written his name into South America’s footballing folklore. Whether this Sudamericana campaign ends in glory or not, one thing is certain: Dayro Moreno’s story is far from over. Like the oak he is compared to, he stands tall, strong, and unshaken—a living legend in white.
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