Dario Essugo left in tears after becoming Sporting's youngest player
Sporting Lisbon youngster Dario Essugo left in floods of tears after becoming club’s youngest-ever player at 16 years and six days old… making his first-team debut for the Portuguese giants a whole year and eight months earlier than Cristiano Ronaldo did
- Dario Essugo became Sporting Lisbon’s youngest-ever player on Saturday night
- At 16 years and six days, he beat the previous record held by Santamaria in 1999
- Essugo was left in tears at full time as he was congratulated by his team-mates
- The midfielder is over a year younger than Cristiano Ronaldo when he debuted
Sporting Lisbon youngster Dario Essugo was left in tears on the pitch on Saturday night after becoming the youngest player in the Portuguese club’s history at just 16 years and six days.
Essugo, who only turned 16 eight days ago, came on as second-half substitute for Joao Mario with just six minutes left in Sporting’s 1-0 victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes.
In doing so, he became Sporting’s youngest-ever player and broke the record previously held by defender Santamaria, who made his debut aged 16 years, 11 months and 12 days back in 1999.
Dario Essugo was left in tears on the pitch after becoming Sporting Lisbon’s youngest player
Essugo, who only turned 16 eight days ago, came on as second-half substitute against Vitoria
He broke the record previously held by defender Santamaria, who made his debut in 1999
Essugo broke down in tears while being congratulated by his team-mates after the victory
Essugo is also well over a year younger than Cristiano Ronaldo was when he made his first senior appearance for the club at 17 years, eight months and two days.
The highly-rated prospect only turned 16 on March 14 and came on wearing the No 84 shirt.
He only signed professional terms with Sporting this month.
But it all got too much for him at the full-time whistle as he broke down in tears while being congratulated by his team-mates.
In his post-match interview, Essugo aid: ‘It is an indescribable sensation, which I always dreamed of – I have to thank everyone.
‘It is only the beginning, I have to continue working and helping the club to achieve its goals.
‘It is different to be playing at a senior level, but the club supported me and I was very relaxed.’
Essugo has been capped at international level by Portugal’s under-16 and under-15 teams and looks to have a promising career ahead of him.
The highly-rated prospect only turned 16 on March 14 and came on wearing the No 84 shirt
After making his first-team debut, Essugo will now set his sights on becoming the club’s youngest goalscorer.
Ronaldo is the current holder of that title and Essugo has plenty of time – a year and eight months in fact – to find the back of the net and surpass the legendary Juventus forward.
Ronaldo scored a brace on his debut – a 3-0 win over Moreirense.
Sporting ran out 1-0 winners against Vitoria thanks to Goncalo Inacio’s first-half strike at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Victory left them top of the Primeira Liga, 10 points clear of Porto as they chase a first league title since 2001-02.
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