Manchester City starlet 17-year-old Rico Lewis becomes club’s youngest scorer in Champions League
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“What a goal, he’s a fantastic player. He’s so intelligent’: 17-year-old Rico Lewis praised by Pep Guardiola after he became Manchester City’s youngest EVER goalscorer in the Champions League by netting his side’s equalizer in a 3-1 win over Sevilla
- Rico Lewis became the league’s youngest ever goalscorer to equalize
- The 17-year-old joined the club at the age of eight and played in the England age group
- Lewis made his Champions League debut in October against FC Copenhagen
- Marked his full-length debut for the club with his first-ever senior-level goal
Pep Guardiola praised Rico Lewis after the 17-year-old became Manchester City’s youngest ever goalscorer in the Champions League.
Lewis scored City’s equalizing goal as they came off a goal to beat Sevilla 3-1 at the Etihad on an otherwise quiet evening in Manchester.
Starting as right-back for Pep Guardiola’s youthful looking side for the dead rubber against the Spanish outfit, Lewis was mobbed by his delighted team-mates after snatching a through ball from Julian Alvarez.
Rico Lewis became Manchester City’s youngest ever goalscorer in the Champions League on his full-length debut for the club
Lewis seemed a combination of shocked and excited as he celebrated the best moment of his career yet with equally happy teammates.
Guardiola, who gave Lewis his Champions League debut against FC Copenhagen a few weeks ago, praised his intelligence as a player after the game.
“What a goal, he’s a fantastic player,” he said. “He’s so intelligent and so smart. He has the skills, he scored a fantastic goal.
“He was brilliant to take on the keeper and score a goal like that.”
Starting with fellow graduates Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, Lewis seemed particularly excited to enjoy the moment with them.
For the money the club has spent since its takeover by Abu Dhabi in the late 2000s, the club has brought in a number of players from the academy – many hoping Lewis will be next along the production line.
In response to the moment on social media, City fans praised the young man for his goal and overall performance.
The youngster, who has been with the club since he was eight, scored a well-taken attempt
“Rico Lewis remembers the name,” one wrote, citing some famous comments from past years.
What a goal from Rico Lewis. This boy has a future at Manchester City. I’m so sure of it,” wrote another.
Meanwhile, another may have predicted a bright future for the young starlet, saying he delivered for the club every time he appeared.
“Rico Lewis, remember the name. Every game this man has played has been brilliant!’
Another chose to focus on the special moment for the academy graduate.
What a moment for Rico Lewis that is. Brilliant.’
Lewis became the fifth youngest Englishman to start in the competition behind Jack Wilshere, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Josh McEachran.