Rio Ngumoha, the 16-year-old Liverpool prodigy, etched his name into Premier League history on August 25, 2025, during a dramatic away match against Newcastle United. Coming on as a late substitute, Ngumoha scored in the 100th minute, securing a 3-2 victory for the Reds. This incredible feat not only marked his Premier League debut but also made him Liverpool's youngest-ever goal scorer, surpassing the previous record held by Ben Woodburn.

However, the true significance of Ngumoha's goal lies in the record he matched, one previously held by a Premier League legend: Wayne Rooney. Rooney, back in October 2002, scored a winning goal for Everton against Arsenal at the age of 16 years and 360 days. Ngumoha's goal against Newcastle saw him enter the record books as only the second 16-year-old to score a winning goal in a Premier League game.

Remarkably, Ngumoha, at 16 years and 361 days old, is actually one day younger than Rooney was when he set the original record. While he doesn't break the overall record for youngest Premier League goalscorer, he joins an elite list of players to have achieved the milestone at such a young age. James Vaughan remains the youngest Premier League goalscorer at 16 years and 270 days. James Milner is the second youngest at 16 years and 356 days.

Ngumoha's journey to this historic moment began at the Chelsea academy. He later joined Liverpool in September 2024 and quickly made an impression. In January 2025, he debuted for Liverpool's first team in an FA Cup match against Accrington Stanley, becoming the youngest player to represent the club in the FA Cup. He also holds the distinction of being the youngest player to start a first-team game for Liverpool.

His talent was further showcased during Liverpool's pre-season tour in July 2025, where he scored two goals and provided two assists in four games. Described as a lively left-sided forward capable of playing anywhere across the front line, Ngumoha has represented England at the U15, U16, and U17 levels.

Wayne Rooney, whose record Ngumoha has now equaled, is a Manchester United icon and one of the Premier League's all-time leading goalscorers with 208 goals. Rooney made 491 appearances in the Premier League. He won the Premier League 5 times. He also holds the record for the third-highest number of assists, with 103.

Rio Ngumoha's dramatic winner against Newcastle not only secured three points for Liverpool but also marked the arrival of a potential future star. Matching a record held by Wayne Rooney is a significant achievement, and all eyes will be on Ngumoha as he continues to develop his talent at Anfield.