Barcelona's Yamal displaces ex-Super Eagle Babayaro on list of youngest UCL debutants

Barcelona’s youngster Lamine Yamal has been on a record-breaking spree since his debut as a 15-year-old in the Blaugrana’s 4-0 victory over Real Betis in April.

The 16-year-old Spanish international has now made another entry into the record books, displacing retired Nigerian international Celestine Babayaro on the list of youngest-ever debutants in UEFA Champions League history.

Babayaro’s long-standing record of being the youngest debutant in UCL history, at 16 years and 80 days, achieved in the 1994/95 season for Anderlecht against Steuea Bucharest, was famously broken by Youssoufa Moukoko in 2020. 

The Germany international bumped Babayaro down to second place on the list when he started for Dortmund in the Champions League against Zenith at 16 years and 18 days, snatching the Nigerian’s 26-year record.

The former Chelsea defender has now been shunted further down the list by Barcelona’s Spanish-Moroccan, who came on for the Blaugrana in the 68th minute, replacing Joao Felix.

Yamal is now the second-youngest debutant in the Champions League, at 16 years and 68 days. The now 45-year-old Babayaro is still in a podium position until, at least, when another youngster comes around.