Up until Tuesday at 18:45, Bounida had five appearances for Ajax 1 to his name, all as a substitute. That changed against Benfica. Fred Grim positioned the Ajax player on the right wing and granted him his first start for Ajax at the highest level: the Champions League.
Suárez's successor
His first minutes from kick-off showed exactly what the talented Ajax player has in his locker. In doing so, Bounida followed in the footsteps of Luis Suárez. He became the first Amsterdam forward to record two shots, two chances created and three dribbles on his Champions League debut since the Uruguayan in 2010.
He was also, at nineteen years and 267 days, the youngest Ajax player to be involved in four attempts on goal in the Champions League since Devyne Rensch in September 2022. The defender (then nineteen years and 232 days) was also involved in four attempts on goal.
Bounida among fine company
If we zoom further in on that list, Bounida sits among some celebrated Ajacieden. Viktor Fischer (nineteen years and 185 days) was also involved in four attempts on goal on 26 November 2013 in the home match against FC Barcelona. Christian Eriksen (eighteen years and 297 days) was involved in six attempts in 2010 against AC Milan, and Ryan Babel (eighteen years and 269 days) even seven times on 14 September 2005 against Sparta Prague. Wesley Sneijder (nineteen years and 135 days) also features in the list. He was involved six times on 22 October 2003 during the match with Celta Vigo.
Looking at the current Champions League season, Bounida has dribbled his way up two leaderboards. He is already the Ajax player with the most successful dribbles this Champions League season, together with Oscar Gloukh: six each. Mika Godts follows with five.
Dribblers in Europe
And if we take a look at all players in this Champions League campaign with more than ninety minutes, Bounida can be found in second place. On average, he registers 5.8 successful dribbles per ninety minutes. In that ranking, Rodrygo of Real Madrid leads the way with 6.1 successful dribbles. Further down the list are FC Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal (4.8) and former Ajacied Mohammed Kudus (4.1), now at Tottenham Hotspur, in fourth and sixth place respectively.
