Mesloub breaks Zaïre-Emery's precocity record in Champions League

Mezian Mesloub has erased a record that belonged to Warren Zaïre-Emery. At 16 years and 339 days, the RC Lens midfielder came on as a substitute Tuesday evening against Sporting Portugal — a 0-2 defeat at Bollaert — to play his second Champions League match with a French club, surpassing the Paris player by just four days.

Zaïre-Emery reached this same milestone at 16 years and 343 days, in February 2023, during the first leg of the round of 16 against Bayern Munich at Parc des Princes. Christophe Galtier had given him his first Champions League appearance a few months earlier, in October 2022, during a 7-2 victory against Maccabi Haïfa, before Fabian Ruiz replaced him in this second European outing.

Mesloub, son of former Algerian international Walid Mesloub, is currently a Portugal U-21 international, although he is also eligible to represent France and Algeria. His precocity is part of a series of young French talents who have shone early on the European stage: Ayoub Bouaddi was exactly 17 years old during his second Champions League match with LOSC, and Rayan Cherki was two days older during his second appearance with OL.

This symbolic record lost does nothing to tarnish the already exceptional achievements of Zaïre-Emery, 20. Launched as a professional in August 2022 at 16 years and 4 months — PSG’s youngest ever debutant ahead of El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Kingsley Coman — he has since won four Ligue 1 titles, two French Cups and two Champions Leagues. He remains moreover France’s youngest international since 1914.