On Wednesday night, a Manchester City star broke a special UEFA Champions League record that had long been held by Lionel Messi.
The English giants thumped Real Madrid 4-0 to seal their spot in the Champions League final against Inter Milan next month.
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A Bernardo Silva brace, a header by Manuel Akanji and a late strike by substitute Julian Alvarez ensured that the Premier League outfit reached only their second final in the tournament.
It was also a night of milestones, with City boss Pep Guardiola becoming the fastest manager to reach 100 wins in the tournament, doing so in just 160 games, while opposition boss Carlo Ancelotti also set a new record when he took charge of his 191st UCL match, more than another tactician ever and eclipsing the mark set by former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, it was not only the managers who reached new heights.
Alvarez's stoppage-time goal just two minutes after coming on saw the forward beat his Argentina captain Messi's record to become the youngest Argentine ever to score in the Champions League semi-finals at the age 23 years, three months and 17 days.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner had set the record when he was 23 years, 10 months and three days'old – coincidentally, also in a clash against Real more than 12 years ago.
?????? Julián Álvarez acaba de convertirse en el argentino MÁS JOVEN en convertir en Semifinales de Champions League, con 23 años, 3 meses y 17 días?? El récord lo tenía un tal Lionel Messi, con 23 años, 10 meses y 3 días.Ambos ante Real Madrid. ?? pic.twitter.com/nDsnsSrYCj
— Sudanalytics (@sudanalytics_) May 17, 2023
Alvarez's goal on the night also ensured Los Blancos' joint-biggest defeat in their history in the competition, with a previous 4-0 loss coming against Liverpool back in 2009.
Despite featuring mostly as a substitute in his debut season at the Etihad, the 23-year-old marksman already has 21 goal involvements in 46 appearances for City.
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Should the highly-rated striker go on to win the Champions League this season, he will become only the 10th player in history to win a European Cup/Champions League and a FIFA World Cup in the same season, following the likes of Roberto Carlos and Raphael Varane, according to UEFA.
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