Kylian Mbappe highest scoring teen in Champions League

  • Kylian Mbappe scored in PSG’s 4-0 win over Anderlecht on Wednesday night
  • It was the 18-year-old’s eighth goal in Champions League games, making him the highest-scoring teen in the competition
  • Mbappe, who does not turn 20 for 14 months, breaks Patrick Kluivert’s record 

Kylian Mbappe continues to smash records.

On Wednesday night, the Paris Saint-Germain forward became the highest scoring teenager in Champions League history, notching his eighth goal in just 12 games in the competition against Anderlecht.

It was his second goal in the Champions League this season, adding to the six he scored in Monaco’s unlikely run to the semi-finals last season.

The goal sees him surpass Patrick Kluivert’s 21-year-old record.

Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his eighth Champions League goal on Wednesday night

Patrick Kluivert, then 18, cries after his goal as won the Champions League for Ajax in 1995

Patrick Kluivert, then 18, cries after his goal as won the Champions League for Ajax in 1995

TOP SCORING TEENAGERS IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY
PLAYER GOALS
Kylian Mbappe (Monaco, PSG) 8
Patrick Kluivert (Ajax) 7
Karim Benzema (Lyon) 6
Raul (Real Madrid) 6
Bojan Krkic (Barcelona) 5
Yakubu (Maccabi Haifa) 5
Obafemi Martins (Inter Milan) 4
Miralem Pjanic (Lyon) 4
Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow) 3
Goncalo Guedes (Benfica) 3
Marquinhos (Roma, PSG) 3
Arjen Robben (PSV) 3
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) 3
Tomas Rosicky (Sparta Prague) 3
Javier Saviola (Barcelona) 3
Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 3

The Dutch striker scored seven Champions League goals in two full seasons for Ajax before his 20th birthday, including a famous late winner over AC Milan in the 1995 final.

Frenchman Mbappe is in no immediate danger of being caught either. No teenager currently playing has scored more than the two goals which Marcus Rashford has.

And the Manchester United forward, who scored the winner against Benfica on Wednesday night, turns 20 on the day of his side’s next European game so has no chance to add to his tally of two in three.

Mbappe’s PSG team-mate Goncalo Guedes – currently on loan at Valencia – makes the top 10 with three goals but is approaching his 21st birthday.

Goals at a young age are no guarantee of success over a long period, however, as the likes of Obafemi Martins, Bojan Krkic and Yakubu will attest to.

All three make the top 10 teen Champions League goalscorers but have gone on to have modest careers.

Mbappe's Monaco team-mates mob him after he struck at Manchester City last season

Mbappe’s Monaco team-mates mob him after he struck at Manchester City last season

On the other hand, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed prolific Champions League goalscoring records as teens but have won the competition and the Ballon d’Or four times each.

Still, Mbappe’s precocious talent is undoubted, with PSG set to fork out £160million to sign him from Monaco next summer when his initial loan expires.

Incredibly, Mbappe does not turn 20 until December 2018. If he keeps scoring at this rate, he’ll stretch the record towards the 20-goal mark.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk