Brian Madjo etched his name into the record books on his competitive debut for Aston Villa, becoming the youngest player ever to score in a European Super Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain. The 17-year-old struck before half-time in Salzburg, cancelling out a stunning opener from PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
A Debut to Remember
Madjo led the line superbly for Unai Emery's side, having several excellent opportunities before he crashed in a cross from John McGinn. His performance drew praise from former Villa defender Alan Hutton, who was thrilled to see the teenager make his mark in style.
"I was desperate for him to get on the end of one," said Hutton. "For me he is getting in the right areas. Hemmings, I thought, was excellent in that first half as well."
Pundit Praise and Determination
Hutton also noted Madjo's resilience, saying: "I was wondering whether he could go down when Hakimi gave him a little shove in the back, but he doesn't. He carries on." He added that in the last 10-15 minutes, John McGinn, Buendia, Hemmings and Madjo really came alive and started to make Villa move forward, creating so many chances. "Madjo is going to give centre-backs an absolute nightmare," Hutton concluded.
Off-Pitch Victory Paves the Way
Madjo's goal came just days after Villa won their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on August 4. The ruling enabled them to register the forward after FIFA had previously blocked it, following his £10 million transfer from Metz due to rules restricting international transfers for under-18s. However, CAS ruled in Villa's favour because Madjo was born in England.
In a statement, Villa said: "Aston Villa can confirm that the club's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the registration of Brian Madjo has been upheld. Born in Enfield, London and a UK citizen, he left England at a young age and was raised in Luxembourg."
