CNN
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There are league debuts, then there are league debuts à la Eliesse Ben Seghir.
The 17-year-old netted twice, including a superb long-range effort, as he came off the bench to help Monaco beat AJ Auxerre 3-2 in Ligue 1 on Wednesday.
The teenager hasn’t been added to the first-team squad yet on Monaco’s website but you would never have guessed that from the way he took center stage against Auxerre.
As the team drew 1-1 at half-time, Monaco coach Philippe Clement made three changes, including putting Ben Seghir in the mix for his first Ligue 1 appearance.
The French attacking midfielder, who wore number 44, went through the club’s academy and only turned professional at the start of the season.
Ben Seghir made a very late appearance in the Europa League in November but really presented himself to the world with this brilliant performance against Auxerre.
His first goal came just 13 minutes from his league debut, as he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper after being played by Aleksandr Golovin.
While his first effort was effectively taken, his second goal demonstrated that Monaco seem to have unearthed another star in the making.
With the score tied at 2-2, Ben Seghir received the ball on the left before cutting inside and unleashing a brilliant effort that whistled past the keeper and settled into the bottom corner of the net at the 85th minute.
You could see the pure joy on the teenager’s face as he walked away to celebrate with his teammates.
“I’m absolutely not surprised,” Monaco defender Malang Sarr said, according to the club’s website.
“He is a player who is not afraid to try and who takes responsibility. At that age, it is something impressive.
“We are very happy to have a youngster like that because with this talent he has, he can get us out of difficult situations like tonight.
“I hope he enjoys his night because it’s his night. We’re happy for him.
According to OptaBen Seghir has become the second-youngest player to score a brace for Monaco in Ligue 1, after French legend Thierry Henry.
At 17 years and 315 days, Ben Seghir also became the fifth youngest player to score for the club in Ligue 1, behind superstar Kylian Mbappé, Pietro Pellegri, Henry and Benoît Badiashile, according to Monaco.
Ben Seghir hopes his heroism will be enough to secure a start in his team’s next game against Brest on Sunday.
