Gio Reyna becomes youngest player to make 50 Bundesliga appearances
USMNT and Borussia Dortmund star Gio Reyna has become the youngest player ever to make 50 appearances in the Bundesliga.
The American midfielder broke the record previously held by Kai Havertz when he started Dortmund's Matchday 3 fixture at home to Hoffenheim.
And he crowned the occasion by scoring the opening goal - the sixth of his Bundesliga career - as BVB edged a dramatic five-goal thriller 3-2 at Signal Iduna Park.
Watch: Highlights of Reyna's goal and the Dortmund win
Born on 13 November 2002, the USMNT international has reached a half century of games in Germany’s top flight at the age of 18 years, nine months and 14 days. Former Bayer Leverkusen man Havertz's milestone game came at 18 years, 10 months and four days back in April 2018, himself taking the record off Timo Werner.
A DFB Cup winner with BVB last season, Reyna has won 34 of his now 50 Bundesliga matches and scored six times since making his bow in the league just two months past his 17th birthday in January 2020.
He got his first goal while still 17 on the opening matchday of 2020/21. Although compatriot and Dortmund predecessor Christian Pulisic found the back of the net at a younger age (just over three months Reyna's junior), the current Borussia No.7 has reached 50 Bundesliga games around four months faster than his international teammate.
Related news
Leverkusen slip up again in Stuttgart stalemate
The defending champions had a goal ruled out and hit the woodwork twice as they dropped points for the fifth time in nine games this season.
Matchday 9 probable teams
Julian Ryerson out, Waldemar Anton doubtful: Borussia Dortmund hope to avoid a defensive injury crisis against RB Leipzig.
Bundesliga 2, Matchday 11 overview
Leaders Düsseldorf lost for a second straight week, ahead of Hertha hosting hot-and-cold Cologne, while Miroslav Klose’s free-scoring Nuremberg could leapfrog HSV.