River Plate's youth academy continues to produce football prodigies, and the latest sensation is Franco Mastantuono. At just 16 years old, Mastantuono made history by becoming River Plate's youngest goal scorer, surpassing even Javier Saviola's record. This remarkable achievement occurred during the Copa Argentina, where Mastantuono scored the second goal in a 3-0 victory.

Mastantuono's incredible feat also earned him the title of the second-youngest goal scorer in Argentine football history, standing alongside the likes of Sergio Agüero. Only the legendary Diego Maradona, who scored for Argentinos Juniors at 16 years and five days old, remains ahead. The teenager's journey with River Plate's first team began in 2024, impressing coach Martín Demichelis during preseason training sessions and games.

After his standout performance, Mastantuono received the player-of-the-match award and expressed his deep connection with the club. He shared, "Since I arrived at River in 2019, every time I score a goal, I kiss the club's badge. It was the club that put food on my table when I was a kid. It was a great emotion when I scored—a lot of things went through my head, it made me want to cry. It is a dream that came true for me."

As Claudio Echeverri departed for Manchester City, Mastantuono emerged as another young talent with immense potential in the River Plate ranks. The future looks bright for this budding star, and his historic goal is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career.

Source: [mundoalbiceleste.com]