Kendry Paez, the future star of Chelsea, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the youngest South American player ever to score a goal in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

This remarkable feat occurred on Thursday night when the 16-year-old Ecuadorian international found the net during his country’s 2-1 victory over Bolivia in La Paz.

Moises Caicedo, a recent summer signing for Chelsea, assisted Paez in this goal, foreshadowing their future partnership at Stamford Bridge.

Paez, a teenage sensation, joined Chelsea several months ago through a £17.2 million deal with Independiente del Valle.

However, he won’t officially make the move to West London until he turns 18, which means Chelsea will be closely monitoring his progress over the next two years.

Capable of playing in midfield or on the wing, Paez made his debut for Independiente at the tender age of 15.

He holds the distinction of being the youngest debutant and goal scorer in the Ecuadorian top flight, aligning with Chelsea’s recruitment strategy focused on young talents.

Paez’s early career indicates a promising trajectory as he excelled in the under-17 Copa America, scoring two goals and providing six assists while captaining his national team. He was also recognized as the top talent at the Next Generation Trophy, a youth tournament featuring clubs from around the world, just last year.

Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has inherited a high-value squad that has yet to meet the lofty expectations set for them. The team finished in the lower half of the standings last season and has faced challenges in the current season, securing just three wins out of their eight Premier League games.

In response, Pochettino has welcomed a series of new arrivals this summer but has expressed his desire to take a more active role in player acquisitions and departures. He stated, “I think like I told before, when the transfer window was closed, I need to be involved, more involved now, in every single decision. I think we need to start identifying what we need for January. We already start to work.”

KENDRY PÁEZ GOAL AT 16 YEARS OLD FOR THE ECUADOR SENIOR TEAM pic.twitter.com/YRVziIIvuy

— Felix (@FelixJohnston_) October 12, 2023

Independiente del Valle performance and stats

Independiente del Valle is currently 1st in the Copa Libertadores with 12 points.

In the last 8 games, it has won 4 times, drawn once, and lost 3 times. In its last match, Independiente del Valle drawn 1-1 against Deportivo Pereira.​​

It has a positive goal difference after scoring 10 goals and conceding 5.​

Embed from Getty Images

The post Chelsea’s Rising Star Sets new record with goal, awaits debut in two years appeared first on Soccer Tonic.