When Football’s Biggest Stars Made Their Professional Debuts

February 10, 2025 Editorial team

Every football legend has a beginning. Some burst onto the scene as teenagers, while others took a little longer to make their mark. In this slideshow, we take a look at when some of the world’s greatest footballers made their professional debuts.

Bernardo Silva

Bernardo Silva was 20 years old. He made his debut on October 28, 2014, in a Taça da Liga match for Benfica against Belenenses.

Paulo Dybala

Paulo Dybala was 17 years old. He made his debut on July 21, 2011, in a match for Instituto against Rosario Central.

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Alisson Becker

Alisson Becker was 20 years old. He made his debut on August 12, 2013, in a match for Internacional against Novo Hamburgo.

Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer was 20 years old. He made his debut on August 16, 2006, in a match for Schalke 04 against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

Jan Oblak

Jan Oblak was 17 years old. He made his debut on July 27, 2010, in a match for Olimpija Ljubljana against Maribor.

N’Golo Kanté

N’Golo Kanté was 21 years old. He made his debut on August 18, 2012, in a match for US Boulogne against Bastia.

Jadon Sancho

Jordan Sancho — feelphoto / Shutterstock.com

Jadon Sancho was 17 years old. He made his debut on August 20, 2017, in a match for Borussia Dortmund against Augsburg.

Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min was 18 years old. He made his debut on December 11, 2010, in a Bundesliga match for Hamburger SV against 1. FSV Mainz 05.

Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku was 16 years old. He made his debut on October 2, 2009, in a match for Anderlecht against AA Gent.

Harry Kane

Harry Kane was 18 years old. He made his debut on November 5, 2011, in a UEFA Europa League match for Tottenham Hotspur against Hearts.

Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard was 16 years old. He made his debut on August 7, 2007, in a match for Lille against Reims.

Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann was 18 years old. He made his debut on August 16, 2009, in a match for Real Sociedad against Athletic Bilbao.

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos was 18 years old. He made his debut on September 22, 2004, in a match for Sevilla against Racing de Santander.

Luka Modrić

Luka Modrić was 18 years old. He made his debut on September 30, 2003, in a match for Dinamo Zagreb against NK Inter Zaprešić.

Sadio Mané

Sadio Mané was 19 years old. He made his debut on October 20, 2011, in a match for Génération Foot against Casa Sports.

Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema was 16 years old. He made his debut on September 9, 2004, in a match for Lyon against Metz.

Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk was 20 years old. He made his debut on October 4, 2011, in a match for FC Groningen against VVV-Venlo.

Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah was 18 years old. He made his debut on August 3, 2010, in a match for El Mokawloon against Ismaily.

Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne was 17 years old. He made his debut on October 16, 2008, in a match for Genk against Lokeren.

Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé was 16 years old. He made his debut on December 2, 2015, in a Ligue 1 match for AS Monaco against Troyes AC.

Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski was 19 years old. He made his debut on August 18, 2008, in a match for Lech Poznań against Legia Warszawa.

Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland was 15 years old. He made his debut on May 12, 2016, in a 1st Division match for Bryne against Ranheim.

Neymar

Neymar was 17 years old. He made his debut on March 7, 2009, in a match for Santos FC against Ituano.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi was 17 years old. He made his debut on October 16, 2004, in a La Liga match for FC Barcelona against Espanyol.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo was 17 years old. He made his debut on September 14, 2002, in a match for Sporting CP against Moreirense.

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