Maresca Praises Estêvão Following Record-Breaking Champions League Performance
Enzo Maresca expressed his admiration for Chelsea’s Estêvão after the team secured a remarkable 5-1 victory over Ajax. This match marked a historic moment as Chelsea became the first club in UEFA Champions League history to have three teenagers score in a single game.
In the wake of a summer 2024 shake-up that saw Thomas Tuchel relieved of his duties, Bayern Munich found themselves rebound from a series of coaching rejections before appointing Vincent Kompany, who was recently dismissed from Burnley after leading the team to relegation. The 2025 transfer window did not go smoothly either for Bayern, as they were outbid for young Bundesliga talents like Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) and Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United), who opted for the Premier League instead of the German giants. Consequently, Bayern shifted their focus and invested in experienced players such as Luis Díaz and Nicolas Jackson on loan, while also giving young talent Lennart Karl some game time.
After a tumultuous few summers, Bayern is now experiencing a successful run in the 2025-26 season, boasting 14 wins from 14 matches across all competitions. Currently, Karl has as many combined goals and assists (three) in 290 minutes of play as Wirtz has in 934 minutes with Liverpool.
Karl also made history last week by becoming the youngest scorer for Bayern in the UEFA Champions League, netting a composed goal in the clash against Club Brugge. Over the weekend, he followed this up with another remarkable strike against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
“17-year-old Lennart Karl has made history as Bayern’s youngest-ever UCL goalscorer this week and now adds an incredible goal today!”
What a talent! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4fwu0noPCs
This season in football has revealed numerous unexpected young talents emerging on the scene. Here’s a selection of my top 15 rising stars under the age of 21, displaying commendable performances early in the season.
Estêvão, Chelsea / Brazil
Age: 18
Key Stats: 475 minutes, 2 goals from 22 shots, 1 assist from 8 chances created.
Estêvão has started to make a name for himself, despite the challenges faced by exciting young Brazilians at major clubs. His exceptional season with Palmeiras highlighted his scoring ability, and Chelsea’s coaching staff is managing his introduction into the squad effectively.
Can Uzun, Eintracht Frankfurt / Turkey
Age: 19
Key Stats: 834 minutes, 6 goals from 32 shots, 4 assists from 14 chances created.
Uzun has made a significant impact in his first season as a core player, ranking high in several key performance areas for his club.
Franco Mastantuono, Real Madrid / Argentina
Age: 18
Key Stats: 599 minutes, 1 goal from 26 shots.
Like many young players, Mastantuono’s early efforts in attacking roles have shown promise despite the hurdles of a competitive team environment.
Senny Mayulu, Paris Saint-Germain / France
Age: 19
Key Stats: 627 minutes, 2 goals from 16 shots, 1 assist from 9 chances.
Mayulu scored in a historical win for PSG in last season’s Champions League final and is contributing effectively during this season as well.
Valentín Barco, Strasbourg / Argentina
Age: 21
Key Stats: 1,061 minutes, 3 assists from 20 chances created.
Barco has taken on multiple roles for Strasbourg, showcasing his versatility as a key player early in the season.
Noah Sadiki, Sunderland / DR Congo
Age: 20
Key Stats: 802 minutes, leading in statistics for ball progression and defensive contributions.
Sadiki has emerged as a vital force for Sunderland, helping to bolster the midfield and contributing to the team’s overall success.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal / England
Age: 19
Key Stats: 445 minutes, 3 assists from 5 chances created.
Lewis-Skelly’s skills and contributions on the field are becoming increasingly evident as opportunities arise within Arsenal’s deep squad.
Lennart Karl, Bayern Munich / Germany
Age: 17
Key Stats: 303 minutes, 2 goals from 16 shots, 1 assist.
Karl has quickly made a name for himself, showcasing his talent and striking ability while being utilized in various attacking positions.
Assan Ouédrago, RB Leipzig / Germany
Age: 19
Key Stats: 333 minutes, 2 goals, 3 assists.
Ouédrago’s performances are proving vital for RB Leipzig as they aim to recover from a disappointing prior season.
Leopold Querfeld, Union Berlin / Austria
Age: 21
Key Stats: 930 minutes, 2 goals.
Querfeld’s defensive prowess has been critical as Union Berlin’s backline navigates through the season under pressure.
Christian Kofane, Bayer Leverkusen / Cameroon
Age: 19
Key Stats: 558 minutes, 4 goals from 20 shots.
Kofane is displaying his knack for goal-scoring, providing bright spots for Bayer Leverkusen during challenging times.
Adrián Liso, Getafe (on loan from Real Zaragoza) / Spain
Age: 20
Key Stats: 634 minutes, 3 goals from 12 shots.
Liso is proving his value at Getafe, being named LaLiga’s under-23 player of the month in August.
Geovany Quenda, Sporting CP / Portugal
Age: 18
Key Stats: 722 minutes, 2 goals, 4 assists.
Quenda’s contributions in the attacking third are significant, earning him a future move to Chelsea as he grows his skill set.
Antoine Mendy, Nice / Senegal
Age: 21
Key Stats: 1,022 minutes, 204 defensive interventions.
Mendy leads the league in defensive actions, demonstrating resilience and skill despite injury setbacks.
Joane Gadou, RB Salzburg / France
Age: 18
Key Stats: 630 minutes, 90 defensive interventions.
Gadou’s development in a demanding environment at Salzburg is making him a hot prospect for several major teams.
n
