V. van Dijk revealed that he gave advice to 16-year-old Liverpool hero Rio.

2025-08-26 09:17 © AP

Rio Ngumoha – a name combination that football fans should remember.

The 16-year-old Englishman gave himself a great early birthday gift by scoring the decisive goal in a Premier League match against Newcastle United. He will celebrate his 17th birthday in three days, and the crucial goal came in the tenth minute of added time.

After the match, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk stated that he gave the young footballer some advice.

"I am very happy for Rio. I told him before: ‘This is just the beginning. Keep working hard and stay humble,’” said the Dutchman.

Former star footballer Theo Walcott also expressed joy over the surprising end of the match: "I almost cried when I saw 16-year-old Rio scoring the decisive goal. It was very beautiful – an incredible moment.”