Where are they now? The youngest Champions League goalscorers

Our Top 10 list across the footballing world continues with the list of the youngest goalscorers of the Champions League era.

Many of these names will invoke fond memories, but some will serve as cautionary tales that initial success at a young age does not guarantee that your footballing career is not guaranteed to be destined for great things.

With that in mind, let’s look at the top ten youngest goalscorers and where they are now.

All information was directly sourced from uefa.com at the time of writing and is subject to change

10| Pedri (Barcelona) vs Ferencvárosi TC; 17-years 330-days

One of a continuous conveyor belt of talent that emerges from La Masia, Pedri is one of the new breeds at Barcelona tasked with pushing the club into another period of dominance. His goal against Hungarian outfit Ferencvárosi was certainly befitting of announcing himself to Europe. Where is he now? Still at Barcelona and in line for big things at the Camp Nou.

9| Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) vs Fenerbahçe SK; 17-years 300-days

Wales has produced quite a few top-level players even if they are overshadowed by the rest of the nations in the British Isles, but Aaron Ramsey certainly built a career that featured match-winning goals and quite a few iconic moments and is fondly remembered at Arsenal to this day. Where is he now? Plying his trade for Rangers after failing to kick on from Arsenal at Juventus.

8| Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) vs Manchester City; 17-years 289-days

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM – APRIL 06: Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund in action during the Champions League match between Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund at the Manchester City Football Academy on April 06, 2021 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)

When it comes to England, the island nation has continued to improve its reputation when it comes to producing young talent of late in a new crop of talent that should be pushing for major honors for the next ten years, and that includes Jude Bellingham. His influence at Borussia Dortmund cannot be understated and his goals continue to prove that. Where is he now? On the radar screens of the biggest clubs across Europe as a potential exit from the Ruhr valley is on the cards.

7| Breel Embolo (FC Basel); vs PFC Ludogorets Razgrad; 17-years 263-days

Breel Embolo was meant to usher in a period of progression for Swiss football after he burst onto the scene as a youngster with domestic giants FC Basel. Swiss football has kicked on rather well in recent years, but Embolo, despite his jumpstart to life, has not had the career that many felt he was capable of. Where is he now? Languishing at Borussia Mönchengladbach in his sixth year in Germany that has yet to pan out.

6| Martin Klein (AC Sparta Prague) vs Panathinaikos; 17-years 241-days

Scoring a goal as a seventeen-year-old at any professional level, in any position, is an achievement that cannot be understated. For Martin Klein, the Czech center back finding the back of the net on the biggest stage in Europe was the high-water mark of a career that, in the grand scheme of things, paled in comparison to this achievement. Where is he now? Last seen playing for German club Kickers Selb in the Landesliga Bayern-Nordost after years of plying his trade in the lower leagues around Europe.

T-4| Bojan Krkić (Barcelona) vs FC Schalke 04; 17-years 218-days

Much was expected from Bojan Krkić when the former Spanish U17 hitman captured hearts and minds as a youngster after graduating from La Masia and though he did well in the initial phase of his career, which included some lovely Champions League moments, he failed to become the wonderkid many were hoping to see. Where is he now? Suiting up for Vissel Kobe in Japan after stints in Italy, the Netherlands, England, Germany, and the MLS.

T-4| Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal) vs Rosenborg BK; 17-years 218-days

LONDON – FEBRUARY 1: Patrick Vieira and Francesc Fabregas of Arsenal look dejected as Manchester win 2-4 in the Barclays Premiership match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury on February 1, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)

One of the best midfielders in his generation, Cesc Fàbregas was at the pinnacle of European football as the young skipper of Arsenal before heading back home to Barcelona. His seemingly endless influential appearances for the Gunners in the Champions League featured goals from the beginning of his footballing journey in north London. Where is he now? Enjoying the twilight of his career at AS Monaco.

3| Mateo Kovačić (Dinamo Zagreb) vs Olympique Lyonnais; 17-years 216-days

Football fans have a lot to thank Dinamo Zagreb for when it comes to some of the players the Croatian giants continue to pump out year on year, and one of them is Mateo Kovačić. He got his chance to impress early, like many Zagreb academy graduates, and he delivered on the biggest stage for the club before moving on to greener pastures. Where is he now? Impressing for Chelsea after spending time at both Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

2| Peter Ofori-Quaye (Olympiacos) vs Rosenborg BK; 17-years 195-days

Ghanaian striker Peter Ofori-Quaye spent most of his time in Greece during a career that spanned more than fifteen years, and he was lucky enough to don the famous red and white kit of domestic giants Olympiacos during that period and scoring 24-goals for the club which included the goal that puts him second on the list after beginning his career with Kalamata as a fifteen-year-old. Where is he now? Retired after a career that only lasted 196-appearances for the Ghanaian international.

1| Ansu Fati (Barcelona) vs Inter Milan; 17-years 40-days

Like Pedri, Ansu Fati has risen into the Barcelona first-team and has made many fans wonder what will be possible with him patrolling the wide areas at the Camp Nou for the full measure of his career, and when he became the youngest-ever goalscorer in the Champions League, what could be with him because a core value for the club. And rightfully so. Where is he now? Recovering from injury and still a long-term piece of the puzzle under Xavi at Barça.