Xavi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Simons' Champions League journey began in the qualifying rounds with PSV Eindhoven during the 2022–23 season. He made his European debut for the club in the Champions League qualifiers, though his first goal in UEFA competition came in the Europa League group stage on 6 October 2022, scoring in a 5–1 win away to Zürich. That season, PSV secured second place in the Eredivisie on the final day, earning a spot in the Champions League qualifiers for the following season. After returning to Paris Saint-Germain in July 2023, Simons was immediately loaned to RB Leipzig. On 25 October 2023, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 3–1 victory over Red Star Belgrade, also providing an assist and being named player of the match. At 20 years and 187 days, he became the youngest Dutch player to both score and assist in the competition since Arjen Robben in 2003. In the return fixture against Red Star Belgrade on 7 November, he scored the opening goal in a 2–1 win, securing Leipzig's qualification to the round of 16. Following a permanent move to Tottenham Hotspur in August 2025, Simons scored his first Champions League goal for the club on 9 December 2025 in a 3–0 win over Slavia Prague. His Champions League career was interrupted on 25 April 2026, when he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a Premier League match, ruling him out for at least seven months and causing him to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In Their Own Story

Leipzig, 25 October 2023. The Champions League anthem fades. Red Star Belgrade are the visitors. Xavi Simons, aged 20 years and 187 days, receives the ball in the attacking third. He scores his first goal in the competition, then provides an assist, and the stadium announcer names him player of the match. In the stands, someone checks a stat: the last Dutch player to both score and assist in a Champions League match at that age was Arjen Robben, back in 2003. Two weeks later, on 7 November, he scores again against the same opponent, the opening goal in a 2–1 win that secures Leipzig's place in the round of 16. The kid from Amsterdam, who made his World Cup debut at 19, is now writing his name into European nights.

Reader's Guide

Simons' Champions League appearances span three clubs across three seasons. At PSV Eindhoven (2022–23), he featured in the Champions League qualifiers before the team dropped into the Europa League, where he scored his first European goal against Zürich. At RB Leipzig (2023–24 and 2024–25), he scored his first Champions League goal against Red Star Belgrade on 25 October 2023, and followed it with another against the same opponent on 7 November. His performances helped Leipzig reach the round of 16 in the 2023–24 season. At Tottenham Hotspur (2025–26), he scored his first Champions League goal for the club on 9 December 2025 in a 3–0 win over Slavia Prague. His European season was cut short on 25 April 2026, when he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a Premier League match, ruling him out for at least seven months and causing him to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Key moments to watch for: his brace of goals against Red Star Belgrade in the 2023–24 group stage, and his first Champions League goal for Tottenham against Slavia Prague in December 2025.

Did You Know?

• Simons made his professional debut for PSG on 10 February 2021, coming on as a substitute for Julian Draxler in a 1–0 Coupe de France win over Caen.
• He scored his first career goal on his PSV debut, a 5–3 win over rivals Ajax in the Johan Cruyff Shield on 30 July 2022.
• At 20 years and 187 days, Simons became the youngest Dutch player to both score and assist in a Champions League match since Arjen Robben in 2003.
• Simons made his Netherlands and World Cup debut on 3 December 2022 in a 3–1 win over the United States in the round of 16, becoming the youngest player to feature in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the Netherlands.
• He scored his first senior international goal in a 4–0 friendly win over Iceland on 10 June 2024, and scored against England in the Euro 2024 semi-final on 10 July 2024.