At 16 years and 18 days, the attacker of Cameroonian and international origin in the lower categories, Youssoufa Moukoko, became the youngest footballer to play a Champions League match. Lucien Favre gave him entry in the 58th minute of Zenit-Dortmund and the teenager beat Celestine Babayaro, who made his debut at 16 years and 87 days with Anderlecht in the draw (1-1) against Steaua Bucharest in a clash of the group stage played on November 23, 1994.
Youngest debutants in the history of the Champions League
- Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund): 16 years and 18 days
- Babayaro (Anderlecht): 16 years and 87 days
- Cherki (Olympique Lyon): 16 years and 102 days
- Halilovic (Dinamo Zagreb): 16 years and 128 days
- Tielemans (Anderlecht): 16 years and 148 days
More than 26 years later, in Saint Petersburg, Moukoko pulverized his mark, leaving behind other precocious talents such as Rayan Cherki (16 years and 102 days with Olympique Lyon in 2019), Alen Halilovic (16 years and 128 days with Dinamo Zagreb in 2012), Youri Tielemans (16 years and 148 days with Anderlecht in 2013) ... Yet another record for a forward who has entered the elite with strength.
Just turned 16, Moukoko made his Bundesliga debut against Hertha at the age of 16 and one day last November 21 surpassing the mark of Nuri Sahin (16 and 334 also with BVB against Wolfsburg in August 2005) becoming also the youngest to compete in the German League. When the law of the Teutonic country allowed him to dress short with the 'older', Favre has not hesitated to give him the alternative (he has played four teams with the first team). "I think he is the most promising talent in the world at the moment," Haaland confessed. The future is here.