Phil Foden has been a Pep Guardiola favourite since the Spaniard took charge at Manchester City, and he has rewarded the faith with goals.
Phil Foden became the youngest player to hit 50 goals in a Pep Guardiola team as he scored two in a first-half rampage by Manchester City in Sunday’s derby.
The England international scored in City’s opener and added a fourth as the hosts led Manchester United 4-0 at the break. These were his first goals in a Manchester derby, this is his eighth appearance in such a match.
In between those goals, Erling Haaland produced another master class finish with a clinical double strike and it was Haaland’s cross that Foden fired home to reach his half-century.
It meant Foden reached 50 goals in all competitions for City at the age of 22 years and 127 days.
Lionel Messi was 22 years and 164 days old when he turned 50 at Barcelona under Guardiola.
To give this some context, it’s important to remember that Messi played four seasons for Barcelona before Guardiola took over ahead of the 2008-09 season, while Foden only played for Guardiola in the City first team.
Messi reached 50 for Guardiola in just his second season under the Spanish boss, while Foden made his City debut almost five years ago, in a Champions League game against Feyenoord.
