15 goal contributions earns top honors
The Champions League represents the peak of club football, and it’s the coveted trophy that every elite player aspires to win each season. This prestigious tournament serves as an ideal platform for rising stars to showcase their talents, and numerous superstars have had their most memorable moments in this competition.
Wayne Rooney famously scored a hat-trick in his Champions League debut with Manchester United, while Karim Benzema found the back of the net in his first start in the competition for Lyon. Kylian Mbappé gained his reputation during Monaco’s remarkable run to the semi-finals in the 2016/17 season. At the beginning of that season, Mbappé held the record for the most goal contributions by players aged 18 and under, but Lamine Yamal has surpassed the French star since then.
Champions League Goal Contributions by U18 Players
Yamal assisted Jules Koundé’s winning goal in Barcelona’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday night. This marks Yamal’s eighth assist in the competition, alongside seven goals, bringing his total goal contribution tally to 15. This achievement is two more than what Mbappé had accomplished by his 19th birthday, with contributions from both Monaco and PSG.
As shown in the graphic above, Real Madrid legend Raúl is third on the list, with six goals and two assists for the Spanish giants before turning 18. Additionally, five players have recorded five goal contributions in the Champions League prior to their 19th birthday: Zoran Filipovic, Bojan Krkic, Rodrygo, Theo Walcott, and Jude Bellingham.
