Attention, Mircea Lucescu! The opponent in the CM pool, grade 10 » The record broken by Kenan Yildiz at Juventus
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Sunday, November 30, 2025, 12:33 / Updated Sunday, November 30, 2025 12:38
Kenan Yildiz, the Juventus striker, became, at 20 years and 209 days, the youngest footballer in the history of the Bianconeri to score 20 goals. The Turkish attacking midfielder, who Mircea Lucescu's side will face away in the 2026 World Cup qualification play-off, scored the double as Luciano Spalletti's side beat Cagliari 2-1 on Saturday.
“Kenan Il Fenomeno”, headlined today's Gazzetta dello Sport print edition, after Yildiz scored both of Juventus' goals at the Allianz Stadium to win against the Sardinians.
It was the Turkish's second “double” in Serie A, after the successful one against Chivu's Inter in Il Derby d'Italia (4-3) in October.
Kenan Yildiz: “I don't look at statistics. I want to play well, with joy and with confidence. The coach gives me complete freedom”
Kenan Yildiz was voted the MVP of the match against Cagliari and was showered with praise by the pink daily. The one considered the descendant of a famous bianconero decar, Alessandro Del Piero, dispossessed this very record!
Kenan Yildiz made the difference in the Juventus – Cagliari match, scoring both goals for the Bianconeri / Photo: Imago
134 days younger than “Pinturicchio”, the Turk has reached 20 goals scored for Juventus. Kenan Yildiz is already seventh in the Bianconeri U21 top scorers in Serie A (with 13 goals)tying Pietro Anastasi, according to Opta.
“I don't look at the statistics, I want to play well, with joy and confidence. The coach gives me complete freedom, he lets me play the way I want. And I'm happy that I can help the team”, declared Kenan, “with his usual good-boy face, which, however, transforms on the pitch. Like yesterday. Ruthless, with two shots, two goals. Exactly what Juve needed”, as noted by Gazzetta dello Sport.
5Kenan Yildiz has goals and 5 assists in 17 games played (1,373 minutes) this season at Juvetus. In total, the Turk who grew up in the Bianconeri's academy ticked off 101 games, 21 goals and 16 decisive assists
Spalletti: “Kenan Yildiz is better than I can tell him!”
And coach Luciano Spalletti praised the star of the Turkish national team: “Yildiz has the qualities of a champion, a number 10, a player who can give you a win out of nowhere.
The team is designed to let him loose without locking him into schemes. Yildiz is even better than I can tell him.” Attention, then, Romania and Mircea Lucescu!
Kenan Yildiz scored the “double” for the Turkish national team in the match against Bulgaria (6-1) in the WC 2026 preliminaries / Photo: Imago
Because Yildiz scored three goals in five games, all as a starter for Vincenzo Montella's team, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which included group winners Spain.
In total, the one who wears the number 11 on the shirt of the Turkish national team, has 26 games and 5 goals, debuting at 18 years, 5 months and 8 days.
