Lionel Messi’s Champions League record remains untouched after 18-year-old Mastantuono scores for Real Madrid

Franco Mastantuono made his return to Real Madrid‘s starting line-up in the best possible way, by scoring on Tuesday UEFA Champions League match against AS Monaco. By finding the net, the 18-year-old wrote his name in Argentine football history. although he ultimately failed to equal a record of Lionel Messi.

After scoring in the Copa del Rey elimination against Albacete and coming off the bench against Levante, Mastantuono stood out with an energetic and perceptive performance. In the 51st minute, after a strong hold-up from Vinícius Júnior, the Brazilian slid a through ball to the Argentine, who finished with his right foot for his first Champions League goal.

With that strike Mastantuono became the second-youngest Argentine player to score in the Champions League at 18 years and 159 days old. However, Real Madrid’s candidate fell just a few weeks short, 29 days to be precise, to surpass Messi’s benchmark.

Messi already established himself in Barcelona’s first team in 2005. On matchday 4 of the 2005–06 Champions League, he scored the third goal in a 5–0 win over Panathinaikos on 2 November. the youngest Argentinian to score in the competition at 18 years and 131 days.

Mastantuono played along Real Madrid‘s first three Champions League matches under then head coach Xabi Alonso. He remained scoreless in wins over Marseille (2–1), Kairat Almaty (5–0) and Juventus (1–0), before being sidelined for the next three games while recovering from pubalgia.

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Despite missing out on Messi’s record, Mastantuono still earned a place in Real Madrid’s youth history. That’s him now the club’s third youngest goalscorer in the Champions Leaguebehind Raul Gonzalez (18 years, 113 days) and Endrik (18 years, 58 days).

Mastantuono: ‘I will never be Messi’

Mastantuono signed for €45 million from River Plate ahead of the 2025-26 season and came with high expectations. Labeled by some as “Lamine Yamal from Real Madrid‘ or even ‘the new Messi”, the winger scored three goals and one assist in twenty appearances, drawing criticism from fans and Spanish media.

After the match against Monaco, Mastantuono responded to that criticism in the mixed zone: “Yes, it hurts, but I also understand them. As a kid I was lucky enough to have people talking about my football side. Some said I was the new Messi, and others said I was a disaster and the worst signing in Real Madrid’s history. I don’t believe I’m Messi, I’ll never be Messi, and I don’t believe I’m the worst signing in Real Madrid’s history.“

He then spoke about dealing with negativity and focusing on development. “I’m working on being in good shape and becoming the best version of myself that I think I can achieve, and I work for that every day. Criticism hurts when it concerns bad intentions, but at the end of the day we are part of the football eliteand I think criticism is justified”, he concluded.

Youngest Argentine goalscorers in Champions League history

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) vs. Panathinaikos in November 2005: 18 years, 4 months and 9 days old.
2. Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid) vs AS Monaco in January 2026: 18 years, 5 months and 7 days old.
3. Nico Paz (Real Madrid) vs Napoli in November 2023: 19 years, 2 months and 21 days old.
4. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) vs Galatasaray in November 2023: 19 years, 4 months and 29 days old.
5. Javier Saviola (Barcelona) vs. Fenerbahce in September 2001: 19 years, 9 months and 7 days old.
6. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid) vs. PSV in September 2008: 20 years, 3 months and 14 days old.
7. Lucas Ocampos (AS Monaco) vs Bayer Leverkusen in November 2014: 20 years, 4 months and 15 days old.
8. Jonathan Silva (Sporting CP) vs Chelsea in December 2014: 20 years, 5 months and 11 days old.
9. Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid) vs Benfica in September 2015: 20 years, 6 months and 21 days old.
10. Maxi Lopez (Barcelona) vs Chelsea in February 2005: 20 years, 10 months and 20 days old.