The UEFA Champions League never ceases to amaze. Every season, it provides unforgettable moments, and this week was especially historic.
While fans were glued to their screens watching thrilling semi-final clashes, few realized that several long-standing records were being broken or challenged in real-time. Here are three of the most impressive Champions League records you might have missed this week:
Lamine Yamal: Youngest Semi-Final Goalscorer in UCL History
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal etched his name into the history books by becoming the youngest player ever to score in a Champions League semi-final, aged just 17 years and 291 days.
The goal came during an epic clash between Barcelona and Inter Milan that ended in a 3-3 draw.
Yamal’s dazzling solo effort in the second half showed maturity beyond his years, cutting in from the right and beating defenders before rifling a left-footed finish into the net. His goal broke the record, which was previously held by Kylian Mbappe (18 years 140 days)
Even more impressive? The match also marked Yamal’s 100th appearance for Barcelona across all competitions, a milestone most players don’t reach until their mid-20s.
His creativity, flair, and composure on the ball are rapidly turning him into one of the brightest talents in world football. What’s even more exciting is that he’s just getting started.
Marcus Thuram: Fastest Goal in UCL Semi-Final History
Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram wasted no time stamping his authority on the semi-final. Just seconds after kickoff against Barcelona, the French striker latched onto a quick pass and drove a clinical finish into the bottom corner, scoring the fastest goal ever recorded in a Champions League semi-final.
Thuram’s strike stunned the Camp Nou crowd and immediately tilted the tempo in Inter’s favor.
The goal set the tone for what became a wild, back-and-forth contest between two European giants. Breaking a record that had stood for over a decade, Thuram’s early burst reminded fans of the fine margins that often define these high-stakes fixtures.
Raphinha Closing in on Ronaldo’s and Figo’s Records
Brazilian winger Raphinha is having a brilliant run this season and his stats in the Champions League tell a a part of the story.
The Barcelona forward is now just one goal contribution away from equaling Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time single-season record of 21 goal involvements, set during the 2013/14 campaign with Real Madrid.
So far, Raphinha has racked up 20 contributions with 12 goals and 8 assists, making him the most productive player in the current edition of the tournament. To put this in perspective, even Lionel Messi and Neymar, in their prime Champions League seasons, didn’t hit this mark.
What’s more, Raphinha is also just one assist shy of matching Luís Figo’s record of nine assists in a single UCL season.
With the second leg of the semi-final still to come, both of these milestones are within touching distance. If he continues at this pace, Raphinha could walk away from this campaign as the most statistically dominant Champions League player of the season.
