Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have become the first teenage players to score in an FA Cup final in over 20 years, since Cristiano Ronaldo achieved this feat while playing for Manchester United.

Manchester United boasts the most successful track record in the FA Cup with 13 championships, but they have had relatively few teenage players (aged 13 to 19) shine in the final. Prior to the match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley last night, only two U19 players had scored for Manchester United in an FA Cup final: Norman Whiteside (in 1983 against Brighton) and Cristiano Ronaldo (in 2004 against Millwall).

The 20-year wait came to an end as Manchester United’s young players once again shone in the FA Cup final. This time, not just one, but two players contributed to the victory over their arch-rivals Manchester City. Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo were the heroes.

Garnacho opened the scoring for Manchester United in the 30th minute after a glaring mistake by Gvardiol and goalkeeper Ortega on the Manchester City side. The young Argentine star had an impressive season, appearing in a total of 50 matches across all competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing 5 assists.

Nine minutes after Garnacho’s goal, Mainoo showcased his talent with a superbly placed shot to make it 2-0 for Manchester United. Mainoo, who is even younger than Garnacho, was promoted to the Manchester United first team towards the end of the previous season. The English midfielder made a remarkable breakthrough, scoring 5 goals in 35 appearances. His reward was a call-up to the England national team for EURO 2024.

Garnacho and Mainoo are seen as the future of Manchester United. They have significantly contributed to salvaging what has been a forgettable season for the Red Devils. It would not be surprising if Manager Ten Hag continues to build the team’s playing style around these young talents.