The Dutch teenager continues to make history in Europe (Picture: Getty)
Cesc Fabregas has congratulated Ajaxcentre-back Matthijs de Ligt on becoming the youngest player to captain a team in a Champions League semi-final, a record the Spaniard previously held.
The Dutch teenager gave another gargantuan performance in the heart of Ajax’s defence against Tottenham on Tuesday night, helping to record a 1-0 first-leg victory.
He had already claimed Fabregas’ record as the youngest player to skipper a Champions League knockout match, and, at 19 years and 261 days, has now broken the record for a semi-final too.
Fabregas was just 21 when he captained Arsenal against United in 2009 (Picture: Getty)
Fabregas set the original record back in the 2008/09 season while he was still at Arsenal, skippering the side in a 4-1 aggregate defeat to Manchester United.
There were no hard feelings from Fabregas that his record had been eclipsed, tweeting ‘congratulations big boy’ to the defender after he had helped defeat Spurs in their own backyard – something Cesc no doubt enjoyed!
Next up, De Ligt will be hoping to become the youngest player to ever captain a team in a Champions League final – or better yet, lift it.
He would be the youngest skipper to reach the tournament’s showpiece since, somewhat ironically, Steve Gerrard, who lifted the trophy in 2005 at just 24 years of age; Ajax could of course face Liverpool in the final if they overcome Barcelona.
De Ligt was a rock at the heart of Ajax’s defence as Spurs were kept at bay (Picture: Getty)
Incredibly, De Ligt was not even born the last time Ajax made the final of the Champions League – way back in 1996 – but he already has a horde of admirers around Europe and is expected to join Barcelona in the summer.
Speaking about the young defender, Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport: ‘I really, really love this player. The youngest captain to ever get to this stage of the tournament, leading his team. It’s the personality about him I like. Bar his footballing ability, which you can it’s obvious, as a personality he looks like he’s meant to be at this stage.’
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