A star is born, and his name is Antonio Arena.
January 13, 2026, is a date destined to remain unforgettable in the memory of Roma’s very young striker: the day Gasperini gave him his debut among the seniors, which also coincided with his first career goal in senior football.
At just 16 years old, Arena scored the temporary 2-2 goal, earning himself a unique record that will always be his: as reported by Opta, he is the only player from a team in the current top five European leagues born in 2009 to have scored a goal in all competitions.
💎 WHO IS ANTONIO ARENA, ROMA’S YOUNG GEM
A forward born in 2009, born in Sydney but of Italian nationality, he arrived in the capital in the summer of 2025 after coming up through the youth ranks at Pescara, with an investment of around 2 million euros. This move came after a historic milestone: in March, playing in Serie C with the Abruzzo side, he became the first player born in 2009 to score among professionals. With Roma’s youth team, he immediately made his mark, scoring 5 goals in 12 appearances, which accelerated his promotion to the first team.
A 188-centimeter-tall center forward, Arena combines physical presence, the ability to attack space, and a keen eye for goal. He has also confirmed these qualities internationally with Italy’s Under-17 team, with whom he took part in the World Cup for his age group, making his mark with two goals and decisive performances that helped the Azzurrini reach the podium.
This journey has cemented his reputation as a precocious talent and opened the doors of Roma’s first team for him. Thanks to an offensive emergency, Gasperini did not hesitate to call him up and throw him straight into action, rewarding his value. Often, the best opportunities arise from difficulties: now it’s up to Arena to seize them, because he has all the qualities needed to stay among the greats — and truly become one himself.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
