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Arda Guler scores his first Europa League goal for Fenerbahce

The 10 youngest goal scorers in Europa League history: Lukaku, Wirtz…

Planet Football •

Despite playing second fiddle to the Champions League, the Europa League is becoming an increasingly challenging competition, but often gives youngsters a European stage to shine on.

With managers usually keen to rotate, youth prospects get a chance to stake their claim. But who exactly are the youngest Europa League scorers since its rebrand in 2009?

We’ve taken a look below at those names who have stolen the show on a Thursday night.

Arda Guler (Nov 2022)

One of the most exciting young players in the world, Real Madrid star Guler scored his first Europa League goal in November last year at the age of 17 years, eight months and nine days while he was playing for Fenerbahce.

Guler scored the Turkish side’s opening goal in a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv with a cool left-footed volley from the edge of the box. He also assisted Fenerbahce’s second goal, scored by Willian Arao.

Arnaud Souqet (Oct 2009)

Chicago Fire right-back Souqet is the ninth-youngest player to have scored in the Europa League.

While playing for Lille, Souqet netted his team’s fourth goal in a 5-1 win against Slavia Prague at the age of 17 years, seven months and 19 days with a simple header.

Lille had some great players among their ranks at the time, including Eden Hazard, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Gervinho.

Dimitris Raspas (Oct 2018)

Centre-forward Raspas scored his first and only Europa League goal for Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in a 4-2 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen aged 17 years, six months and two days.

Raspas now plays his football in the Cypriot second tier with MEAP Nisou.

Florian Wirtz (Oct 2020)

A much more recognisable name, Florian Wirtz is one of the best young attacking midfielders in the Bundesliga and has been linked with Manchester City.

The German international scored his first Europa League goal for Bayer Leverkusen in a 6-2 victory over Nice, aged just 17 years, five months and 19 days.

It feels like we’re watching a star being born under our very eyes. Won’t be long before he’s swapped Thursdays for Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Ante Coric (Sept 2014)

Attacking midfielder Coric netted his first Europa League goal for Dinamo Zagreb in a 5-1 victory over Romanian side Astra Giurgiu, aged 17 years, five months and four days, coming off the bench to add the fifth in the dying embers of the game.

At one stage, Coric was touted to become a superstar and was linked with a host of Premier League clubs. He joined Roma in 2021 but is now a free agent after his contract came to an end in June.

READ: The 14 players to score in the Champions League before turning 18

Yusuf Demir (Nov 2020)

A back-and-forth encounter between Rapid Wien and Scottish outfit Dundalk was the perfect stage for Demir, who added the final goal of a 4-3 win for the Austrians in 2020.

Aged just 17 years, five months and three days, he spent a season on loan at Barcelona in 2021-22, but didn’t earn himself a permanent deal and is now at Basel on loan from Galatasaray, aged 20.

Adam Maher (Dec 2010)

A goal on his professional debut aged 17 years, four months and 25 days was the perfect way for Maher to announce himself to the world, Maher striking against BATE Borisov.

Hype would soon follow in the form of a senior Netherlands cap in 2012 and a move to PSV in 2013, but Maher never truly capitalised on his young baller status. He now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Damac, having turned 30 earlier in the year.

Desire Doue (Oct 2022)

Snatching the ball away from Dynamo Kyiv in the 89th minute of the game, Doue put himself on the map by winning Rennes the game with a coolly taken winner in the group stages at just 17 years, four months and three days old.

One to watch.

Iker Muniain (Oct 2009)

A wonderkid before it was even cool. Muniain had broken into the Athletic Club side in La Liga and continued his good form in Europe, bagging in between a brace from Fernando Llorente in a 3-0 win over Austria Wien.

He was 16 years, eight months and 29 days. Sixteen. And he’s still going now for the same club, aged 30 and a La Liga stalwart, with his only major honour at club level being the Spanish Supercup. Loyalty.

Romelu Lukaku (Dec 2009)

It’s a testament to just how ridiculous a feat Lukaku and Muniain achieved that they still occupy the top two spots in this list, 14 years on from when they scored as teenagers.

Aged 16 years, seven months and four days, Lukaku scored the first of four goals in Anderlecht’s run to the Europa League last 16, building on incredible domestic form that saw him score 15 times as they won the Belgian league title. It’ll take a ridiculous talent to eclipse him.

READ NEXT: The 7 most historic Liverpool victories at Anfield in the Europa League

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Romelu Lukaku Quick Reads Europa League