You never forget the first time: greats' first strikes
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
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UEFA.com looks back at the first goals scored by the 12 forward nominees for the UEFA.com users' Team of the Year 2016; where did they strike first?
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Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Barcelona 2-0 Albacete, 1 May 2005
Age: 17 years, 311 days
The shaggy-haired No30 made his debut in a Barcelona derby at Espanyol on 16 October 2004, but was still 17 when he scored his first goal for his club. The Argentinian had already had one effort ruled offside against Albacete when, in added time, he played a one-two with Ronaldinho before stylishly lobbing the goalkeeper, leaving Camp Nou awestruck. An omen of things to come.
Antoine Griezmann (Atlético)
Real Sociedad 2-0 Huesca, 27 September 2009
Age: 18 years, 190 days
An 18-year-old Frenchman was the talk of excited Real Sociedad fans in the lead-up to the 2009/10 campaign, Griezmann's five friendly goals heralding a season when La Real would earn a return to Spain's top flight. After a couple of cameos, he made the most of his first start against Huesca by pinging the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Derby County 2-2 Southampton, 6 August 2006
Age: 17 years, 21 days
The Welshman was 16 years and 275 days old when given his debut for second-tier Southampton at the end of season 2005/06. He won his first senior international cap a few weeks later and was just a few days beyond his 17th birthday when he fired in direct from a free-kick on the opening day of 2006/07. Not bad for a left-back, as he was then.
Luis Suárez (Barcelona)
Nacional 5-0 Paysandú, 10 September 2005
Age: 18 years, 229 days
Suárez's first competitive strike arrived two minutes after he had come off the bench to make what was his second appearance in the Uruguayan top division for his boyhood team. More memorable still, however, was a lethal bicycle kick in a pre-season friendly against a Sevilla side containing future colleague Dani Alves, struck on 11 August the same year.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Sporting CP 3-0 Moreirense, 7 October 2002
Age: 17 years, 244 days
On his fifth competitive outing, and his first Liga start, Ronaldo left a stunning impression. Sporting were already a goal to the good when, in the 34th minute, the 17-year-old seized possession in the centre circle and raced through to take on four men before dinking the ball over the goalkeeper. He claimed his second goal, a header, in the same game.
Zlatan Ibrahimović (Man. United)
Malmö 2-1 Vastra Frölunda, 30 October 1999
Age: 18 years, 27 days
Ibrahimović's first senior campaign ended with relegation from Sweden's top flight for Malmö, but the forward at least signed off with his first competitive goal. On the last day of the regular season, the gangly No27 chased a ball over the top, flipped it past the onrushing keeper with his right foot and stabbed it into the unguarded net with his left.
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern)
Delta Warszawa 4-1 Łomianki, 30 April 2005
Age: 16 years, 252 days
A fourth-tier prospect for Delta, then top scorer in the second and third divisions with Znicz Pruszków, Lewandowski made his name four minutes after coming on for his top-tier debut with Lech Poznań, his back-heeled effort in a 3-2 loss to GKS Bełchatów – celebrated with a salute to his late father – chosen as the Ekstraklasa's goal of the 2008/09 campaign.
Sergio Agüero (Man. City)
Independiente 2-2 Estudiantes, 26 November 2004
Age: 16 years, 177 days
Awarded his club debut aged 15 years and 35 days in July 2003, Agüero also became the youngest player to feature in the Copa Libertadores early the following year. His first Independiente goal was a little while longer in coming but it would be worth the wait – a dipping, swerving 25-metre hit from the edge of the box.
Gonzalo Higuaín (Juventus)
River Plate 3-1 Banfield, 12 February 2006
Age: 18 years, 64 days
Looking like a young Bruce Springsteen, the 18-year-old Higuaín turned in the box to meet a bouncing ball and stuck out a boot to put River Plate 2-1 up against Banfield. He had made his competitive debut for the club in May 2005, and by October 2006 coach Daniel Passarella was saying – presciently enough – that the attacker was "destined for superstardom".
Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal)
Cobreloa 2-1 Deportes Concepción, 18 March 2005
Age: 16 years, 89 days
Already being billed as 'El Niño Maravilla' (the boy wonder) after four substitute appearances, Sánchez was cheered off the bench with his side 1-0 down and promptly turned this Chilean league encounter. He got his head to a corner for his first senior goal and then produced a shot which was deflected in by a Concepción player for the clincher.
Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang (Dortmund)
Dijon 2-1 Tours, 22 August 2008
Age: 19 years, 65 days
The French-born Gabon international's glorious goalscoring career began when he pounced on misplaced Tours pass in a Ligue 2 game. Brought to AC Milan on the recommendation of his defender-turned-scout father, Pierre Aubameyang, he was farmed out to Dijon to gain experience, and here his pace helping him register eight league goals in 2008/09.
Neymar (Barcelona)
Santos 3-0 Mogi Mirim, 15 March 2009
Age: 17 years, 38 days
It says a lot about Santos's faith in Neymar that he was handed the No7 shirt aged just 17. He repaid that trust on his first professional start against Sao Paulo rivals Mogi Mirim, getting the final goal in a 3-0 win with a brave diving header. The match had been billed as the return of former Santos great Giovanni, but is now remembered for the emergence of a new idol.