Madjo Becomes Youngest Super Cup Scorer: Emery Delighted with 17-Year-Old
Aston Villa lost 2-1 to PSG in Salzburg, but Brian Madjo stole the headlines with a debut appearance and a goal that had been awaited since January.
Aston Villa lost 2-1 to PSG in Salzburg, but Brian Madjo stole the headlines with a debut appearance and a goal that had been awaited since January.
Aston Villa failed to win the UEFA Super Cup, losing 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, but the match in Salzburg will be remembered for the debut of 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo. The young Englishman became the youngest scorer in Super Cup history, netting the equalizer just before halftime, according to Channel News Asia.
Madjo got his goal after missing several clear chances in the first 45 minutes. His performance against one of the world's best defenders, Willian Pacho, drew comparisons to Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku and former Villa and England forward Emile Heskey. His impressive six-foot-four-inch frame proved too much for the PSG defender.
Just before PSG's opening goal, Madjo lost possession in front of his own box, but the teenager didn't let it faze him and equalized before the break.
Madjo joined Aston Villa from French side Metz in January 2026, on his 17th birthday, but the club couldn't register him because FIFA classified his transfer as international, which isn't allowed before the age of 18. The issue arose because Madjo, born in England, had played three matches for Luxembourg's senior national team, the country where he grew up, while Villa considered him an English player.
After playing for Luxembourg, Madjo earned nine caps for England's U-17 team before arriving in Birmingham. He finally received clearance to play last week when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld Aston Villa's appeal. Four goals in preseason friendlies followed, convincing manager Unai Emery to include him in the starting lineup against the two-time defending European champions.
Captain John McGinn, who assisted Madjo's best chances, didn't hold back in his praise. "He was absolutely fantastic. It would have been very easy for him to hang his head after missing those chances, but good strikers keep getting into good positions. He's going to be a big player for us this season," McGinn told Channel News Asia.
Emery also highlighted 19-year-old midfielder George Hemmings, who also made his debut. "They've been working, not playing, and we've been trying to prepare them for the game and bring them up to the level they showed today. There's still work to do, but today they showed they can be close to us and compete," the Spanish coach said.
Emery further explained the match context to HRT, emphasizing that Villa is still in preseason while competing for a trophy. He chose to play with players who were ready and had worked on tactics for four weeks, while giving a week off to those who played until the very end of the World Cup, like Emiliano Martínez, Ollie Watkins, and Ezri Konsa.
PSG took the lead in the 20th minute through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Désiré Doué sealed the win just after the hour mark. Madjo was substituted at halftime for Tammy Abraham, who embraced the teenager as he left the pitch. Despite the loss, Villa leaves Salzburg with a new rising star.
