Who is George Ilenikhena? The 17-year-old wonderkid who downed Barcelona

Tom Weber

• Updated: 14 Dec 2023 14:34 GMT
• 4 min read

George Ilenikhena was fairly unknown outside of some French and Belgian circles prior to Royal Antwerp's clash with Barcelona.

However, his match-winning goal as the reigning Belgian champions pulled off one of their biggest-ever results has not only etched his name into the history books but will have also put him on the map for a broader audience.

But who is this talented 17-year-old and how good is he really?

What position does Ilenikhena play in?

George Ilenikhena is a classic centre-forward, a number nine.

How good is Ilenikhena?

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ilenikhena and his family moved to France when he was three. He joined his first professional club when he signed for Ligue 2 side Amiens in 2021. The 17-year-old only made his senior debut last season, becoming the first player born in 2006 to score in the top two divisions of Europe's big five, but his performances - particularly at the youth level - were enough to convince reigning Belgian champions Royal Antwerp to pay a club-record €6 million for him in the summer of 2023.

The youngster snubbed interest from the Bundesliga, believing that Antwerp could offer him more playing time, and the Belgian side's gamble has certainly paid off. In 23 matches, the teenager has notched eight goals so far this term, including the winner in Antwerp's 3-2 upset over Barcelona when he calmly slotted the ball past Inaki Pena in stoppage time.

The fact that he was a relative unknown prior to his Champions League exploits should not give anyone doubts about his ability. The youngster is highly-rated and the fact that Bundesliga clubs were interested in him attests to that. His Barcelona goal is not a fluke. The left-footed striker believes that his biggest assets are his athleticism and his finishing, though he is not afraid to admit that he still needs to get better at using his weaker right foot and at heading. Among his idols are Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

What clubs are interested in Ilenikhena?

Prior to his move to Antwerp, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Olympique Marseille were linked with the youngster. Interest in his services will again be manifold come the end of the season and Ilenikhena has admitted that he sees Antwerp as a stepping stone.

When does Ilenikhena's contract expire?

Ilenikhena's contract expires on June 30, 2027.

How old is Ilenikhena?

Ilenikhena was born on August 16, 2006, making him 17 years old.

What is Ilenikhena's Instagram?

Ilenikhena's Instagram account is @g.ilenikhena9 and has 8.5k followers as of December 2023.