Back
10 Greatest Debuts in Football History (Ranked)
Feb 13, 2025
Summary
Renowned forwards like Wayne Rooney and Erling Haaland scored hat-tricks on their debut.
Gianluigi Buffon shone with a clean sheet on his Serie A debut at age 17.
Young talents like Alan Shearer and Zinedine Zidane had impactful debuts.
Football debuts often draw significant attention. While some players produce a man-of-the-match performance in their first game, others can struggle to perform under the increased pressure. This list will take a look at when debuts have gone to plan, with memorable moments and goals from players that have started on a positive note, including both domestic and international matches.
It is easier for forwards to make an impression on their debut, as one moment can make a lasting impression on their supporters. There is room for one goalkeeper, though, who had a standout performance in his first Serie A match at the age of 17. Here is a closer look at the best debuts in football history.
Ranking factors:
Memorable goals - An impressive goal scored in the match.
Context - Media attention on a player making his debut ahead of the game.
Importance of performance to result - Importance of individual players' performance to the result.
Domestic and international - Club and national team matches included.
9Shares
0Comments
8Favorites
19Likes
No content at this moment.