Apart from breaking Mbappe's record, Ilenikhena set a new milestone with his goal against Barcelona

French Ligue 1 club Monaco celebrated their return to the UEFA Champions League after six years by beating La Liga giants Barcelona 2-1 at Stade Louis II on Thursday night.

After Lamine Yamal canceled out Maghnes Akliouche's opener, George Ilenikhena scored what proved to be the game-winning goal twelve minutes after coming off the bench.

The summer signing from Royal Antwerp latched onto Vanderson's long ball over the defenders and blasted past Barcelona goalkeeper Ter Stegen.

Besides surpassing Kylian Mbappe's record as the youngest player to score for Monaco in the Champions League, Ilenikhena set a new milestone with his goal against Barcelona.

The BBC has reported that he is also the first player in the competition’s history to score against the same side in successive games but for different teams, having previously netted for Antwerp last December.

Ilenikhena's strike against Barcelona was his first in Monaco's colours, doing so in his fifth appearance for the Principality club, albeit he's yet to make his full debut.

On January 13, 2023, when he scored against Bordeaux, he set a record as the youngest goalscorer in Ligue 2, France's second tier, at 16 years and 150 days. 

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, George Ilenikhena relocated to France with his family at the age of three.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: asmonaco.com 

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