WATCH : Chelsea youngster Kendry Paez becomes second youngest player to score in Copa America

The 17-year-old Kendry Paez's night will never be forgotten as he scored Ecuador's second goal of the Copa America 2024 Group B encounter against Jamaica by converting a penalty kick. With his strike, Paez made history in this Copa America edition by being the youngest goal scorer.

When Félix Torres' header within the Jamaica area touched Greg Leigh's outstretched hand, the referee awarded a penalty following a protracted VAR examination. Paez found the goal with a grounded effort while standing over the ball.

On June 5, 2023, it was revealed that Paez, who plays club football for Independiente del Valle, will sign a contract with English Premier League team Chelsea in the summer of 2025, following his 18th birthday. On the same day, Paez received his first-ever call-up to the Ecuador national team.

Paez made his senior team debut on September 12, 2023, starting in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory against Uruguay and providing an assist for Felix Torres' game-winning goal. With that, he surpassed Diego Maradona as the youngest player from South America to begin playing international football and became the youngest footballer to ever represent La Tri.

At the age of 16 years and 161 days, he became the youngest ever scorer across CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers on October 12 when he scored his very first goal for Ecuador in a 2-1 victory over Bolivia.

🥶🇪🇨 Kendry Páez becomes the second youngest player ever to score in Copa América…



…and hits the Cole Palmer celebration as Estevão did, as future Chelsea player. ❄️pic.twitter.com/R0qhXktCdu

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 26, 2024

Lionel Messi exchanges shirt with Kendry Paez after friendly match

Before Copa America 2024 began, South American nations Argentina and Ecuador played a friendly encounter. Lionel Messi displayed elegance towards Ecuador and Chelsea prodigy Kendry Paez. Messi, an Argentine veteran, began from the bench as Paez took the field and donned the famous number 10 for his nation for the first time.

After the game, the eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient swapped shirts with the 17-year-old, as seen by CFC Ecuadorians, amid much acclaim from the crowd. In the first half, Paez grabbed the attention of the spectators when he nutmegged Rodrigo De Paul, the Atletico Madrid midfielder that supporters jokingly refer to as Messi's bodyguard.