Aussie teen scores on Roma debut with first touch | OneFootball

You may not know the name Antonio Arena just yet, but it is one worth filing away.

The 16-year-old forward made a remarkable first impression for Roma on Wednesday night, needing just one touch to announce himself on the senior stage. Thrown on late in the Coppa Italia tie against Torino, Arena made history in a matter of moments.

Introduced with ten minutes remaining by Gian Piero Gasperini, Arena entered the contest with Roma trailing 2-1. He barely had time to settle before making his presence felt - and he did so without even using his feet. His first involvement came via a header, steering the ball into the net to level the scores and spark disbelief inside the stadium.

The cross was delivered by Wesley França, whose pinpoint delivery allowed Arena to become the first player born in 2009 to score in professional Italian football. Teammates looked on in astonishment, while even the coaching staff struggled to hide their surprise.

Roma would ultimately fall short as Torino struck again late on to secure a 3-2 win, but the result did little to dull the sense of excitement surrounding Arena’s debut.

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From Sydney to Serie A

Arena’s journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. Born in Sydney, he began his football education with Western Sydney Wanderers before quickly realising that opportunities at the highest level might lie elsewhere.

A move to Italy followed, with Pescara offering him a pathway back to his family roots - his grandparents are Italian - and a chance to develop within the European system. A trial spell with Real Betis was also considered, but Italy proved the right fit.

In 2024, Arena made his senior debut for Pescara in Serie C and wasted little time making an impact, scoring just eight minutes into his first appearance. At 16, he became the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history, surpassing a record previously held by Marco Verratti.

Roma moved swiftly to secure his services, and Arena returned to youth football in the capital while waiting patiently for his chance at first-team level. When it came, he took it with his very first touch.

Internationally, Arena’s future remains an open question. He has already represented both Australia and Italy at youth level, most notably scoring twice at the Under-17 World Cup for Italy, where the Azzurrini finished third after defeating Brazil on penalties.