Aston Villa’s Madjo makes history with youngest Super Cup goal
Brian Madjo becomes youngest scorer in competition history, though Villa fall to Paris Saint-Germain in final
Aston Villa’s 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo has become the youngest goalscorer in Super Cup history, netting a one-touch volley moments before half-time against Paris Saint-Germain. The goal marked the culmination of an eight-month wait for the teenager, who joined the club in January but was unable to make his professional debut due to FIFA regulations concerning the international transfer of players under 18.
Madjo, who stands 6ft 4in, outmuscled experienced defender Willian Pacho before firing past PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov. Despite the historic nature of his first professional goal, PSG secured the trophy after the match concluded. Madjo’s performance, however, was widely regarded as the standout moment of the night, following earlier attempts where he hit the post and missed a target before breaking through the PSG defence.
The delay in Madjo’s registration stemmed from strict FIFA rules prohibiting the international transfer of minors. Villa successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for an exemption, arguing that Madjo was returning to the United Kingdom, the country of his birth in Enfield, North London. He holds Cameroonian parentage and had previously grown up in Luxembourg, where he represented the senior national team, earning three caps.
Madjo’s path to Villa included a stint at French Ligue 1 side FC Metz, where he became their youngest player at 16 years and 217 days. He scored 13 goals in 26 games for Metz’s under-19s before making five senior appearances without scoring. His physical profile has drawn comparisons to Romelu Lukaku, with Luxembourg’s technical director Manuel Cardoni noting the similarity in their playing styles.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery had expressed strong interest in the player after reviewing footage of his performances. While other English clubs, including Chelsea, monitored Madjo’s progress, Villa secured his signature. His father, Guy Madjo, a former striker in English lower leagues, was jailed in absentia in the UK for sexual assault and has not returned to the country since.
