'Little Lukaku' 17-year-old stuns European Super Cup, shatters 30-year historical record

Brian Madjo turned his Aston Villa debut into an unforgettable entrance by breaking a record that had stood for 30 years in the European Super Cup. Notably, the 17-year-old striker, likened to "little Lukaku," also made PSG's defense endure a difficult evening.

Aston Villa could not prevent PSG successfully defended the European Super Cup title after a 1-2 defeat in Salzburg, but Unai Emery's team still left the pitch with a special name to watch: Brian Madjo.

At the age of 17 years and 212 days, Madjo was given a starting opportunity by Emery in his debut match for Aston Villa. And the young striker didn't take long to turn the biggest stage of his career into a place where he rewrote history.

After PSG took the lead through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Madjo constantly troubled the defending Champions League winners' defense. He headed wide twice, then hit the post before finally being rewarded in the 45th minute.

From a cross by John McGinn, Madjo beat the pressure of Willian Pacho and put the ball into the net, equalizing 1-1 for Aston Villa. UEFA confirmed that the goal made the young striker the youngest ever scorer in the European Super Cup.

The previous record belonged to Patrick Kluivert, who scored for Ajax in the 1996 Super Cup at the age of 19 years and 220 days. That means Madjo not only broke a milestone that had stood for 30 years, but also lowered the record age by more than two years.

Notably, Madjo is not a completely unfamiliar name to those who follow European youth football. During his time at Metz, the 1.93m striker caught attention due to his physical foundation beyond his age, his ability to hold off defenders, and his direct runs into the spaces behind the defense. It was these characteristics that made the London-born player early compared to Romelu Lukaku.

However, those who have followed Madjo's development even believe he is not simply a center-forward who relies on strength as his foundation.

Manuel Cardoni, Technical Director of the Luxembourg Football Federation, once commented that Madjo has a profile similar to Lukaku but possesses a diverse skill set: good handling in tight spaces, positioning, running behind defenses, and being able to play with both feet. As a child, Madjo was even pulled back to play as a midfielder to force him to develop technique and vision instead of relying solely on his physical advantage.

Therefore, calling Madjo "little Lukaku" is probably not an exaggeration. But his performance against PSG also showed that the 17-year-old could develop into a more versatile striker. Villa spent about £10 million to bring the young striker from Metz in January, but then FIFA did not allow the club to register the player due to restrictions on international transfers for under-18 players. Madjo was born in England and has English nationality, but he grew up in Luxembourg, played in France, and represented the Luxembourg national team before moving to England's youth system.

Instead of waiting until Madjo turns 18 in January 2027, Aston Villa decided to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The English club argued that Madjo was born in London and is a British citizen, so he should be allowed to register to play.

On August 4, CAS accepted Villa's appeal, thereby paving the way for Madjo to officially participate in official matches for the 2026/27 season. Just 8 days later, in the first major match he was allowed to play in, the 17-year-old striker scored against PSG and broke a record that had stood for three decades.

That investment and legal battle somewhat shows how highly Aston Villa value Madjo.

And this young talent is also becoming part of the bigger ambition picture at Villa Park.. This summer, Emery's team has continuously brought in notable faces such as Johan Manzambi, João Gomes, and Alejandro Garnacho, while Madjo – the contract completed in January – has finally been freed from the registration barrier to truly step into the first team.

Facing PSG, who have just won the Champions League for two consecutive seasons, Aston Villa did not play the role of a team merely trying to hold on. The Premier League representative played fairly, created numerous moments that put the European champions under pressure, and only succumbed with a narrow 1-2 scoreline.

Unai Emery still couldn't break his curse in the European Super Cup, but Villa definitely left Salzburg with their heads held high. A 17-year-old Madjo breaking a record, new signings gradually integrating, and a team capable of putting up a proper fight against one of Europe's strongest sides show that the ambition at Villa Park is being built with very concrete steps.