Four players to score 10+ Champions League goals before turning 21

Some of the finest talents to play in the Champions League

The UEFA Champions League has been graced by many fine players, especially goalscorers, over the years. Many experienced campaigners have flourished in the Champions League. But a handful of young players have also found success in European club football’s blue riband competition, especially in the last few years.

Many players enjoy domestic success in various European top-flights but find it difficult to emulate the same form in the Champions League. However, many clubs are blessed with various generational talents who show maturity beyond their age. Although many players hit their professional peaks in their mid-twenties, some exceptional talents perform on the biggest stage during their teenage years and early twenties.

Here we look at the four players who have scored goals in the Champions League before they turned 21:

4. Jude Bellingham – 10

He has become the fourth player to reach 10 UCL goals before the age of 21. The Real Madrid superstar, scored for the La Liga giants yet again on Wednesday evening in his side’s 4-2 win over Napoli. It means he has now scored 15 goals in 16 games in all competitions since arriving in Spain. That includes four in four in the Champions League. Those strikes add to the six times he found the back of the net for Borussia Dortmund in Europe’s elite competition.

3. Karim Benzema – 12

Benzema immediately showcased his incredible goalscoring expertise, he’s fourth on the all-time Champions League leading scorer list with 90 goals. With the France international tormenting Europe’s best defenders, as he found the target for fun, Real Madrid soon snapped up his signature in 2009. He’s won five Champions League crowns since his arrival at the Bernabeu. Currently plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League, he is still considered to be one the best strikers of this generation.

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2. Kylian Mbappe – 19

A highly skilful player, Mbappé is known for his dribbling ability, as well as his explosive acceleration, agility, quick feet, first touch, link-up play and creativity when in possession of the ball.  He is highly regarded for his pace and close ball control when dribbling at speed, as well as his movement, tactical intelligence, and ability to beat the defensive line by making attacking runs into space both on and off the ball.

Mbappe rose to Champions League stardom during Monaco’s impressive 2016-17 European campaign, his assist-making and goals were a big reason why the French side reached the semi-finals. Since his transfer to PSG, the France international has continued to be a leading light in the competition for a club who have failed to win the title they have long desired.

1. Erling Haaland – 20

He came, he saw, he conquered and he’s so young that he’s going to dominate opponents for a long, long time, A prolific goalscorer and widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, Haaland has all the attributes of a complete centre-forward. Haaland finished the 2020-21 Champions League campaign as the competition’s top scorer with 10 goals for the Borussia Dortmund team that reached the quarter-final stage. Breaking existing records and making his own records is not something very new to him and he will continue to do this in upcoming years.

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