The stadium buzzed with anticipation. Then, it erupted. A fresh face for Sporting, Geovany Quenda, scored his first goal of the season. It wasn’t just any goal. It was his first-ever strike in the prestigious Champions League. The moment was even sweeter, coming right on home turf at Alvalade stadium.
This young forward, only 18 years, 4 months, and 20 days old, made quite an entrance. He’s already slated to move to Chelsea next season. But before that big step, Quenda carved out a piece of history. He officially became the second-youngest Portuguese player to ever score in the European Cup or Champions League.
That amazing achievement moved him past a familiar name. Gonçalo Guedes had previously held the second spot. Guedes scored for Benfica during the 2015/16 season. At the time, he was 19 years, 10 months, and 2 days old. Quenda beat that mark by nearly a year.
Still, one name sits at the very top of this special list. That’s António Simões, a true legend of the game. He set his record way back in the 1961/62 season, also playing for Benfica. Simões was just 18 years, 3 months, and 8 days old when he found the net. His mark continues to stand strong.
Want to see the magic moment for yourself? Here’s Geovany Quenda’s goal against Kairat:
