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Ahead of Vinicius Junior
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Franco Mastantuono has already etched his name into the Real Madrid history books. The Argentine teenager has made a bright start to life at the Santiago Bernabéu following his €45 million move from River Plate this summer, and this Wednesday scored his first goal for the Spanish giants in a 4-1 win against Levante. In doing so he has become the fourth youngest LaLiga goalscorer in the club's entire history, going ahead of the likes of Vinicius Junior (fifth), and Rodrygo (10th). Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappé were also on the scoresheet in Los Blancos latest victory.
Mastantuono was just 18 years, one month, and nine days old when he notched against Levante. The are only three players ahead of him. Former midfielder Alberto Rivera, who scored aged 17 years and three months back in 1995, remains the youngest league scorer. Behind him is club legend Raúl, who scored aged 17 years and four months in 1994, and then current talent Endrick - the Brazilian scored aged 18 years, one month and four days last year. In total, 12 players have managed to score for Real Madrid in the Spanish top-flight before their 19th birthday.
Teenage talent Mastantuono played at the summer's Club World Cup for River Plate before departing his boyhood club as their record sale - Claudio Echeverri’s €18.5m move to Manchester City was the club's previous most expensive departure. Despite only recently turning 18, he still managed to make 64 senior appearances for River Plate and became their third-youngest player ever when debuting at 16 years old in January 2024. On Mastantuono, Scott Christensen, Transfermarkt’s South American Area Manager, said: "He started playing in the first division for a top club like River at just 16 years old. So there's a big excitement because that's not usual for us. He has a huge personality. In tough moments such as the Copa Libertadores games or the 'Superclasico' against Boca Juniors, the guy was trusted.”
