Alphadjo Cisse gave Milan’s European campaign a landmark night on 15 October, scoring three times against Salzburg in the second round of the Europa League’s league phase and setting a new age record for an Italian player.
A record reset
At 19 years and 358 days, Cisse became the youngest Italian ever to score at least three goals in one match across Europe’s leading club competitions. His hat-trick took the mark below the age of 20 and placed the Milan forward ahead of a sequence of recent and historic names.
Only two days earlier, Club Brugge’s Nicolò Tresoldi had appeared to claim the record. The 22-year-old, aged 22 years and 54 days, struck three times against Inter in the Champions League, overtaking Alessandro Del Piero.
Del Piero’s benchmark had stood for more than three decades, dating back to Juventus’ 1998 meeting with Monaco, when he was 23 years and 144 days old. Tresoldi’s time at the top was brief, however, as Cisse’s Salzburg performance immediately rewrote the list.
Milan’s winner before the individual milestone
Speaking after the final whistle, Cisse was visibly moved but kept the focus on Milan’s result rather than his own place in the record books.
“Being Milan’s leading scorer is secondary, honestly,” he said. “The important thing was that we won, and we did. We are happy.”
Cisse also addressed Amorim’s comments about him, saying they could provide extra encouragement. He credited the welcome he has received within the squad for helping him settle quickly.
Asked about the centre-forward instincts displayed in his goals, Cisse pointed to an experience he already carries from international football. “Those movements are part of the role,” he said. “I have played as a striker with the national team, and that is something I bring with me.”
