Mateo Apolonio made football history in Argentina. With his appearance in his club Deportivo Riestra’s game against Newell’s on Thursday, the 14-year-old became the youngest footballer to ever play a game in Argentina’s first division.
He broke an almost 50-year-old record: goalkeeper Hugo Aicardi played for Racing for the first time in 1975 at the age of 14 years and 353 days. Apolonio was now 14 years and 29 days old when he made his debut.
The young talent came on as a substitute against striker Gonzalo Bravo in the 85th minute of the game in Parana. His club ultimately had to admit defeat to superstar Lionel Messi’s first club 0-1. The small club Deportivo Riestra from the working-class district of Pompeya in the south of Buenos Aires was promoted to the first league for the first time this year.
