Top Ten Youngest Nigerians To Play In Ligue 1 As 'New Messi' Becomes Monaco's Youngest Player

Former Genoa prodigy Pietro Pellegri, dubbed the New Messi, became the youngest player in history to feature for Monaco when he came off the bench in the 86th minute of their 4-0 win over Dijon on Friday, February 16.

Pietro Pellegri who was signed by the Principality club in the January transfer window was aged 16 years, 10 months and 30 days when he made his maiden appearance, beating the record previously held by Kylian Mbappe who was 16 years, 11 months and 13 days when he played his first game for Monaco in December 2015.

The youngest Nigerian to feature for Monaco in the Ligue 1 is 2010 World Cup star Lukman Haruna, who was aged 18 years, 2 months and 25 days when he appeared off the bench in the 74th minute against AS Saint-étienne on March 1, 2009.

But Haruna is not even among the top three Nigerians to debut in the French top division.

Former PSG wonderkid Bartholomew Ogbeche holds the honour of being Nigeria's youngest debutant, the striker was 16 years 11 months and 21 days when he faced HSC Montpellier back in the 2001-2 season.

Ex-RC Lens midfielder Wilson Oruma (17 years 7 months and 6 days) and former Marseille striker Victor Agali (18 years 1 month and 3 days) complete the top three.

Top Ten Youngest Nigerians To Feature In Ligue 1

1) Bartholomew Ogbeche - PSG v Montpellier 2001 - 16 years 11 months and 21 days
2) Wilson Oruma - Lens v Rennes 1994 - 17 years 7 months and 6 days
3) Victor Agali - Marseille v OGC Nice 1997 - 18 years 1 month and 3 days
4) Lukman Haruna - Monaco v Saint-étienne 2009 - 18 years 2 months and 25 days
5) Egutu Oliseh - AS Nancy v Rennes 1999 - 18 years 3 months and 8 days
6) Simon Zenke - RC Strasbourg v Caen 2008 - 19 years 4 months and 16 days
7) Onyekachi Apam - Nice v Marseille 2006 - 19 years 9 months and 29 days
8) Taye Taiwo - Marseille v Lens 2005 - 19 years 10 months and 24 days
9) Elderson Echiejile - Rennes v Toulouse 2007 - 19 years 11 months and 3 days
10) Victor Ikpeba - Monaco v Marseille 1993 - 20 years 2 months and 15 days

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : fctwente.nl