OTHER With his first goal for Anderlecht's first team, Nathan De Cat joins an illustrious list. Since the introduction of professional soccer in the early 1970s, only six players were younger when they first found their way to goal for purple and white. At 15 years, 11 months and 16 days, Nii Lamptey remains the undisputed leader.
Top 10 since introduction of professional soccer
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Continue reading Nii Lamptey: 15 years, 11 months, 16 days (1990) Romelu Lukaku: 16 years, 3 months, 9 days (2009) Julian Duranville: 16 years, 3 months, 30 days (2022) Youri Tielemans: 16 years, 4 months, 18 days (2013) Celestine Babayaro: 16 years, 4 months, 28 days (1995)
Ben Mbemba: 16 years, 4 months 28 days (1999) Nathan De Cat: 16 years, 9 months, 12 days (2025) Luis Oliveira: 17 years, 1 month, 14 days (1986) Aaron Leya Iseka: 17 years, 2 months, 6 days (2015) Marco Kana: 17 years, 2 months, 12 days (2019)
We use for this list the introduction of professional soccer in Belgium in 1973. Therefore, Paul Van Himst is not included. Transfermarkt attributes Van Himst's first goal at 16 years, 11 months, 2 days. Numerous websites adopt this. La Dernière Heure, however, reports that Van Himst was 16 years and 3 months at the time of his first goal. Currently, we lack the sources ourselves to verify this.
Moreover, we would be surprised if in the club's early history there have not been players who scored before their 17th birthday.
The above does not only include goal scorers in the league. Cup of Belgium, European Cups and at the time the League Cup are also included. In other words, all official duels.
