Genk’s Maarten Vandevoordt could become the youngest goalkeeper to play in the Champions League at 17 years and 287 days, if he makes his debut against Napoli on Tuesday.
The current record is held by Benfica’s Mile Svilar, who made his debut against Manchester United in 2017 aged 18 years and 52 days.
Vandevoordt has started Genk’s last two matches in the Belgium league and cup.
He has been picked ahead of regular Gaetan Coucke.
Coucke, 21, had started 21 games for Genk this season – including all five of their Champions League games, while 34-year-old Australian keeper Danny Vukovic has not played since 26 July due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Belgium Under-19s player Vandevoordt, born on 26 February 2002, only made his senior debut for Genk on 24 September and has featured three times for the reigning Belgium champions this season.
Genk are bottom of their Champions League group with one point and can not qualify for the next round or the Europa League.
Youngest goalkeepers in Champions League
1. Mile Svilar (Benfica) v Manchester United, 18 October 2017 – aged 18 years 52 days
2. Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) v Olympiakos, 15 September 1999 – 18y 118d
3. Nikolay Mihaylov (Levski Sofia) v Werder Bremen, 31 October 2006 – 18y 125d
4. Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow) v Porto, 14 September 2004 – 18y 159d
5. Adrian Semper (Dinamo Zagreb) v Lyon, 14 September 2016 – 18y 245d
