Liverpool wonderkid Rio Ngumoha set a new record on Wednesday as he became the youngest player to appear in the Champions League in the club’s history.
It was the latest in a list of milestones for Ngumoha, who emerged as a breakout star this summer.
Coming on for Florian Wirtz as Liverpool led 2-1 against Atletico Madrid with 16 minutes left to play, it was not a token appearance for Ngumoha.
The 17-year-old played his part in earning Liverpool a late winner to kick their Champions League campaign off with a win.
And as he celebrated three big points and another record in his collection, Ngumoha may have taken a look at some of the young starlets he surpassed. Here are the five most recent players to become the youngest Champions League appearance-holder in Liverpool history.
5. Antonio Barragan, 18 years and 59 days
During the Rafa Benitez years, the Liverpool academy was often supplemented by youngsters coming to the club from Spain. One of these was Antonio Barragan, a right-back who arrived from the reputable Sevilla academy.
Like many of those young players signed by Benitez, Barragan did not work out at Liverpool. The now 38-year-old made only one senior appearance for the Reds, which came in a Champions League qualifier away at CSKA Sofia in 2005.
Barragan became the youngest ever non-British player to turn out for Liverpool and also held the title of the youngest ever appearance-maker in the Champions League aged 18 years and 59 days. He left for Deportivo La Coruna the following summer.
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4. Billy Koumetio, 18 years and 25 days
Barragan’s record lasted for 15 years before young French defender Billy Koumetio broke it under Jurgen Klopp.
The centre-back was brought on as a half-time substitute for Fabinho during a Group Stage match against Danish side Midtjylland in 2020. Aged 18 years and 25 days at the time, Koumetio’s inclusion was a sign of how highly-rated he was under Klopp.
Big things were expected of Koumetio, but he failed to impress across his two senior appearances before leaving the club permanently for Dundee in 2024.
3. Stefan Bajectic, 17 years and 323 days
Koumetio did not have his name in the record books for too long, with Stefan Bajcetic taking the mantle following a late substitute appearance against Ajax in September 2022. Bajcetic came on with just seconds left to play at Anfield aged just 17 years and days.
After impressing in the months to come, the Spaniard then became the youngest player ever to start a Champions League game for Liverpool as he began the round of 16 match against Real Madrid aged 18 years, 122 days. That’s a record he still holds today.
Still at the club and now aged 20, there are hopes that Bajcetic could make an impact under Arne Slot this season.
2. Trey Nyoni, 17 years and 213 days
While Bajcetic looked like the next great midfield hope for a little while, he has recently been eclipsed by former Leicester City prospect Trey Nyoni.
Slot is a big fan of Nyoni, and the 18-year-old looks set to play a part in the Liverpool first-team this term.
That would build upon six appearances over the past two years for Nyoni, who became the youngest Champions League appearance-maker for Liverpool when he came on as a second-half substitute during the Reds’ 3-2 loss against PSV Eindhoven in January 2025.
1. Rio Ngumoha, 17 years and 19 days
Ngumoha and Nyoni have stuck up a friendship while breaking into the Liverpool first team, and it feels fitting that the younger of the two players has now taken his friend’s record.
Ngumoha’s record of 17 years and 19 days will perhaps be beaten in the future, but it will take a special talent to do it.
Having come on and immediately looked comfortable against a hardened Atletico defence, there is no doubt that Ngumoha is precisely that.
After a rip-roaring start to the season, it is highly likely this will not be the last we see of Ngumoha in this season’s competition.
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