Who is the youngest player to play in the Champions League?



On December 8, 2020, Borussia Dortmund's Youssouffa Moukaka came on as a substitute in their Champions League game against Zenit Saint Petersburg. With that he broke Celestine Babayaro's 26-year-old record for being the youngest player in the history of UEFA Champions League.



Cameroon-born German footballer Youssoufa Moukoko was born almost 10 years (just three days short, to be exact) after Celestine Babayaro set the record in 1994 for being the youngest to play in the Champions League. Born on November 20 2004, Moukoko joined Borussia Dortmund in 2016 and played for their U17s (under-17s) team aged 13 and for their U19s a year later. He started training with Dortmund's first team as a 15-year-old from January 2020 and made his first appearance in the Bundesliga a day after his 16th birthday, coming on as a substitute against Hertha. A little over half a month later, Moukoko has become the youngest player ever to play in the UEFA Champions League.



1. Youssoufa Moukoko 16 years 18 days



After sitting on the bench for Dortmund for two Champions League games, Moukoko made his European debut on December 8, 2020 in a 2-1 win against Zenit.



2. Celestine Babayaro 16 years 87 days



For more than 26 years, the record for being the youngest to appear in Champions League was held by Babayaro. The Nigerian defender achieved the feat on November 23, 1994 when he started for Anderlecht at Steaua in a 1-1 group stage draw. His debut had one more record in it as well, as he became the youngest in the competition to be sent off. 37 minutes into the game.



3. Rayan Cherki 16 years 102 days



Still with Lyon, Cherki made his Champions League debut as a substitute in a 2-0 loss against Zenit on November 27, 2019. Cherki could have broken Babayaro's record three weeks before this game, but he was an unused substitute in that match.



4. Alen Halilovic T16 years 128 days



Now with Birmingham after moving through a number of dubs, Halilovic made his Champions League debut as a substitute in Dinamo Zagreb's 0-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on October 24, 2012.



5. Youri Tielemans 5 16 years 148 days



Now playing for Premier League side Leicester City, Tielemans made his Champions League debut for Anderlecht during their 0-3 defeat to Olympiacos on October 2, 2013.



 



Picture Credit : Google


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