Published By: Rohit Chatterjee

Champions League 2024/25: Five Youngsters Who Scored on Debut Ft. Real Madrid’s Endrick

In the ongoing Champions League, several youngsters have made their debut on the first match week

This week marked the first match week of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 season. For the unversed souls, this season marks a new chapter in the tournament's history because it is now being played in a new format. Similar to every year, the first matchweek of the tourney witnessed several players making their Champions League debuts.

Given the tough nature of the tournament, scoring a goal in one's debut game is not easy for youngsters. However, the ongoing season has witnessed several debutants score goals in their first game.

Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa

Expectations were high from Real Madrid's latest youngster, Endrick, and he delivered against Stuttgart in his first UCL game. The 18-year-old Brazilian forward scored a long-range goal during a counterattack. Those who watched the match could not believe it was a goal, given how far Endrick was and the position of the goalkeeper. However, Endrick's powerful shot was enough to hit the left lower corner of the net.

Michael Akpovie Olise

French footballer Michael Akpovie Olise moved to Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace this season, and in his very first UCL match, he got his name on the scoreboard. In fact, he scored two goals in the game against Dinamo Zagreb, a team against whom Bayern Munich scored nine goals. The 22-year-old will now aim to keep his momentum going to ensure a permanent place in Bayern Munich's playing XI.  

Kenan Yıldız

A relatively lesser-known name for youngsters, Kenan is a Turkish 19-year-old forward who plays in the Serie A for Juventus. Against PSV on September 17, Kenan scored the opening goal in the 21st minute. Having joined the Old Lady's first team last season, Kenan played 32 matches across the competition and scored four goals. He also contributed with two assists. During the 69 minutes he spent on the pitch, he also completed his passing with an accuracy of 84 per cent.

Florian Richard Wirtz

Regarded as one of the most prominent young talents in the German football circuit, Florian Wirtz also made his UCL debut with Bayern Leverkusen. In his first game, he played 72 minutes and racked up two goals. By doing so, he became the first player from his country to score two goals on debut in Europe's elite club tournament. Last season, Wirtz was one of the reasons behind Leverkusen's title-winning campaign, contributing 18 league goals in the Bundesliga.

Arne Engels

Hailing from Belgium and playing for the Scottish Celtic club, Arne Engels also scored a debut goal in the Champions League. A club record signing from Brendan Rodgers' side this season, Engels started with an assist against Slovan Bratislava. In the second half, Engels converted a penalty and earned his first UCL goal on his debut UCL game.

Lastly, when it comes to top goal scorer, Bayern Munich's Harry Kane sits at the top with four goals in one game.