Home Nigeria Players Abroad 26 Years Later, Celestine Babayaro’s Champions League Record Finally Broken

26 Years Later, Celestine Babayaro’s Champions League Record Finally Broken

For over two decades, former Nigerian defender, Celestine Babayaro held the record as the youngest debutant in the UEFA Champions League.

Aged 16 years and 86 days, Babayaro set the record in 1994 when he played for Anderlecht in a 1-1 draw against Steaua Bucharest.

The record stood for 26 years until Borussia Dortmund’s wonderkid, Youssoufa Moukoko made his first Champions League appearance on Tuesday night.

Aged just 16 years and 18 days, Moukoko broke the record when he came off the bench for Dortmund in their last group game against Zenith St Petersburg.

Although Celestine Babayaro was sent off 37 minutes into that history-making match in 1994, he went on to have a successful career.

Born in Kaduna, Babayaro began his playing career at Nigerian side Plateau United, before moving to Belgian to join Anderlecht in 1994 as a teenager.

He transferred to Chelsea in 1997 where he spent seven seasons, winning the FA Cup, UEFA Cup Winners Cup and UEFA Super Cup one apiece.

The left-back also turned out for Newcastle United before closing the curtain on his career with LA Galaxy in 2008.

Babayaro featured for the Super Eagles between 1995-2004. He won 27 caps.