10 UEFA Champions League’s Youngest Scorers: Record-Breaking Goals from Football’s Rising Stars

The UEFA Champions League has witnessed some extraordinary moments from players as young as 17 years old. These rising stars are setting records and marking their names in the competition’s history. One such standout moment occurred when Lamine Yamal made history as the youngest player to both score and assist in a Champions League match. But who holds the record for the youngest scorer, and who is the youngest player to score in the knockout stages?

Ansu Fati: Youngest Scorer in Champions League History

Ansu Fati made his mark on the Champions League in December 2019, just 40 days after turning 17. His memorable goal for Barcelona in their 2-1 win over Inter Milan became the competition’s youngest-ever goal, breaking the previous record by 154 days. This achievement was particularly remarkable as it surpassed the record set by Peter Ofori-Quaye in 1997, a milestone that stood for more than two decades.

Lamine Yamal: The Second-Youngest Scorer

In the 2024/25 season, Lamine Yamal made headlines as the second-youngest scorer in Champions League history. At just 17 years and 68 days, he found the net in Barcelona’s defeat to Monaco. This goal places him among a group of young talents who have made their mark at an early age, including players like Mateo Kovačić and Cesc Fàbregas, who also feature in the list of top ten youngest scorers.

The Youngest Knockout Stage Scorers

The Champions League knockout rounds have been equally exciting for young players. Jude Bellingham’s first goal in the competition, a crucial strike for Borussia Dortmund against Manchester City in the quarter-finals, earned him the distinction of being the third-youngest scorer in the knockout stages. This feat came shortly after another 17-year-old, Jamal Musiala, found the back of the net for Bayern Munich in the Round of 16.

However, it is Bojan Krkić, another Barcelona player, who holds the record for the youngest scorer in the knockout stages. At just 17 years and 217 days, Bojan scored against Schalke in the 2008 quarter-finals.

Top 10 UEFA Champions League’s Youngest Scorers

1. 17 years 40 days – Ansu Fati (Barcelona vs. Inter, 10/12/19)
2. 17 years 68 days – Lamine Yamal (Barcelona vs. Monaco, 19/09/24)
3. 17 years 119 days – George Ilenikhena (Antwerp vs. Barcelona, 13/12/23)
4. 17 years 149 days – Antonio Nusa (Porto vs. Club Brugge, 13/09/22)
5. 17 years 194 days – Peter Ofori-Quaye (Rosenborg vs. Olympiacos, 01/10/97)
6. 17 years 215 days – Mateo Kovačić (Dinamo Zagreb vs. Lyon, 07/12/11)
7. 17 years 217 days – Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal vs. Rosenborg, 07/12/04)
8. 17 years 217 days – Bojan Krkić (Schalke vs. Barcelona, 01/04/08)
9. 17 years 240 days – Martin Klein (Panathinaikos vs. Sparta Praha, 27/02/02)
10. 17 years 263 days – Breel Embolo (Basel vs. Ludogorets, 04/11/14)

Youngest Knockout Stage Scorers

1. 17 years 217 days – Bojan Krkić (Barcelona vs. Schalke, 01/04/08)
2. 17 years 241 days – Lamine Yamal (Barcelona vs. Benfica, 11/03/25)
3. 17 years 289 days – Jude Bellingham (Dortmund vs. Manchester City, 14/04/21)
4. 17 years 348 days – Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal vs. PSV, 04/03/2025)

Youngest Players to Score and Assist in a Champions League Match

1. 17 years 241 days – Lamine Yamal (Barcelona vs. Benfica, 11/03/25)
2. 17 years 263 days – Breel Embolo (Basel vs. Ludogorets, 04/11/14)
3. 17 years 355 days – Ansu Fati (Barcelona vs. Ferencváros, 20/10/20)

As these young players continue to make waves in European football, it’s clear that the future of the Champions League is in safe hands with a new generation of superstars emerging.

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