Aston Villa suffered defeat in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, but teenage forward Brian Madjo emerged as the standout performer with an impressive debut that promises much for the upcoming season.
At just 17 years old, Madjo became the youngest player ever to score in the Super Cup, netting an equalizer just before halftime. This goal was a reward for his persistence after missing several earlier opportunities during the match.
Standing six-foot-four, Madjo’s physical presence in Salzburg drew comparisons to Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku and former Villa and England striker Emile Heskey. Born in England, he troubled one of the world’s top defenders, Willian Pacho, and appears poised to make a significant impact in the Premier League after a long wait to feature for Villa.
Madjo joined Aston Villa from French club Metz on his 17th birthday in January, but his registration was delayed due to FIFA regulations on international transfers for players under 18. The complication arose because Madjo had played for Luxembourg’s senior team, where he was raised, while Villa considered him an English player. He had also represented England’s Under-17 side nine times before signing for Villa.
Last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Villa’s appeal, granting Madjo clearance to play. After scoring four goals in pre-season friendlies, manager Unai Emery included him in the starting lineup against the back-to-back Champions League winners PSG.
PSG took the lead in the 20th minute through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Notably, Madjo lost possession just before the goal, and it seemed the Georgian winger would overshadow the young forward with his dazzling performance.
Madjo’s first real chance came when he combined with captain John McGinn, darting into the box to meet a cross, but his header narrowly missed. Shortly after, he unleashed a powerful shot that went wide, and another header from a McGinn delivery sailed over the bar.
Despite a frustrating first half, Madjo kept positioning himself to score. Near halftime, McGinn floated a pass to the back post where Madjo outmuscled Pacho and volleyed the ball into the top corner, leveling the score.
McGinn praised Madjo’s resilience, saying, “He was absolutely fantastic. It would have been easy for him to get discouraged after the missed chances, but good strikers keep putting themselves in scoring positions. He’s going to be a big player for us this season.”
Shortly after the break, Madjo nearly assisted McGinn with a strong run into PSG’s half, but the captain’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Matvey Safonov. PSG regained the lead through Desire Doue just after the hour mark.
Madjo was substituted at halftime for Tammy Abraham, who embraced the young forward as he left the pitch. Emery expressed his satisfaction with Madjo and 19-year-old midfielder George Hemmings, noting, “They were working hard and not just playing. We aimed to prepare them to compete at this level, and today they showed they can be close to our standards. There is still work to do, but this was a promising start.”
