Lewis’ standout City games so far | OneFootball

Rico Lewis has reached 100 games in an already outstanding senior career at Manchester City.

Still just 20, the versatile defender and midfielder has been trusted by Pep Guardiola in many of the biggest games already since making the step up to the first team in 2022.

He’s not looked back, having regularly been praised by the boss for attitude as well as his technical ability to keep the ball and bring in team-mates in small spaces.

GET YOUR LEWIS #82 SHIRT HERE

As well as that, there’s the fire that comes from representing his boyhood club having grown up just a few miles from the Etihad Stadium and joined City as an eight-year-old.

Having operated mostly from right-back and sometimes in midfield, Lewis isn’t necessarily always in the team to grab the headlines, but he’s always a reliable, consistent performer.

Here we recount some of standout performances to date…

City 4-0 Bournemouth, August 2022

Having played a starring role on our summer tour in 2022, Lewis was rewarded with a senior debut as a second half substitute in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth.

That felt like a big deal at the time, as not all exciting youngsters during pre-season are given a nudge into the first team once the competitive action starts.

WATCH: City 4-0 Bournemouth: Highlights

However, Lewis was different in Pep’s eyes. While the game was already won when he came on, it was still a huge moment for Lewis himself and our Academy, who celebrated the graduation of another special talent.

City 3-1 Sevilla, November 2022

Lewis’ first start in the Champions League also saw him score his first goal in senior football.

In doing so, he became the youngest scorer on a first start in a Champions League match as well as our youngest ever Champions League scorer, aged 17 years and 346 days.

The goal itself was typical of the determined and energetic Lewis City fans were getting used to. Pushing on down the right, he burst into the box and fired a shot high into the roof of the net before sprinting away to enjoy his moment with the Etihad faithful.

In terms of what it had taken for Lewis to get to this moment, Guardiola said after the game: "We don't give presents here. He had to earn it.”

WATCH: City 3-1 Sevilla: Champions League highlights

City 4-0 Fluminense, December 2023

Lewis played a lot of football in his first 18 months at senior level, especially when you consider City had won an historic Treble in his first term.

However, this Club World Cup final clash with Brazilian giants Fluminense was the first time he started a game with a trophy on the line.

Not only that, it also saw the youngster playing in central midfield alongside future Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.

He enjoyed 60 minutes at the heart of the action before he was given time to shelter from the energy sapping heat in Saudi Arabia, with City already 2-0 up.

WATCH: Highlights: City 4-0 Fluminense

City 2-0 Nottingham Forest, April 2025

Not just in central midfield for this one, but on the right of a midfield three and pushing deep behind enemy lines.

He clearly followed through on what was asked of him within seconds of the start, driving into the box and opening the scoring before the second minute was up.

It was a brilliant finish and display of all that fans want to see. He ran away celebrating like any boyhood Blue given their chance at Wembley has dreamed of doing.

City’s dominance continued from there, with Lewis, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva a perfectly balanced, if dimunitive, midfield three to stifle European challengers Forest.

WATCH: Nottingham Forest 0-2 City: Brief FA Cup highlights

City 4-0 Wolves, August 2025

Another new season, an even more adventurous Lewis.

Back to right-back in our first game of 2025/26, Lewis gave the hosts defence a real headache by joining in every attack down the right with fellow Academy graduate Oscar Bobb.

WATCH: 8-minute highlights: Wolves 0-4 City

It took 34 minutes for the opener to arrive, with Lewis spotting Tijjani Reijnders had carved out some space and bursting beyond him and into the box.

The pass was perfect but still bouncing, though Lewis hit it first time across the face of goal for Erling Haaland to tap in. It was an exquisite cross made to look easy by Lewis.