In a night that will be etched into Manchester United folklore, Harry Maguire rose to the occasion, heading home a dramatic 121st-minute winner to seal a 5-4 victory over Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final second leg, securing a 7-6 aggregate triumph. The pulsating match at Old Trafford, which saw United claw back from a 4-2 deficit in extra time, sent fans into a frenzy—and none were more animated than darts prodigy and diehard United supporter Luke Littler. The 18-year-old, fresh off his meteoric rise in the darts world, took to Instagram with a playful plea to Maguire: “@harrymaguire93 can you wear the no9 next year please sir u beauty,” accompanied by a heart-eyes emoji. The request, a nod to Maguire’s unlikely role as a makeshift striker, captured the euphoria of a match that redefined United’s season.
The game itself was a rollercoaster of emotions. United surged to a 2-0 lead by halftime, with Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot finding the net, the latter assisted by a pinpoint 70-yard pass from Maguire. But Lyon, refusing to buckle, staged a comeback. Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico leveled the score in the second half, and despite Tolisso’s red card in the 89th minute, Lyon took a shocking 4-2 lead in extra time through Rayan Cherki and a penalty from Alexandre Lacazette. “I think they thought they’d won it, the way they were celebrating,” Maguire later reflected, noting how Lyon’s premature jubilation fueled United’s fire. With Old Trafford on edge, Bruno Fernandes reignited hope with a 114th-minute penalty, followed by Kobbie Mainoo’s sublime equalizer in the 120th minute. Then came Maguire, towering above Lyon’s defense to nod in Casemiro’s cross, sparking pandemonium. “It was an incredible feeling to score that winner in such an important game, in a game that was full of emotion and the strangest, maddest game I’ve ever played in,” Maguire said, calling it a career highlight.
Littler’s reaction was pure fandom. Watching the chaos unfold, the teenager, known as “The Nuke” in darts circles, saw Maguire’s header as more than just a goal—it was a statement. His Instagram post, brimming with admiration, humorously suggested Maguire take up the No. 9 shirt, a number traditionally reserved for United’s star strikers. Maguire, ever the good sport, responded with four laughing emojis on his Instagram story, acknowledging the cheeky request without committing to a career change. The exchange wasn’t the first between the two; Littler, a lifelong United fan, previously praised Maguire’s darts skills during a 2024 meet-and-greet where the defender hit a treble 20, and Maguire congratulated Littler on his World Darts Championship win earlier this year. “Ridiculous, Congratulations @lukethenukelittler,” Maguire posted after Littler’s victory over Michael van Gerwen, hinting at their budding camaraderie.
The match’s significance extended beyond Littler’s lighthearted banter. For United, it was a lifeline. Trailing 4-2 with just minutes left, elimination loomed, threatening their hopes of Europa League glory and a Champions League spot next season. Manager Ruben Amorim, who made the bold call to push Maguire up front, likened the atmosphere to United’s 1999 Champions League triumph. “The sound in the stadium for Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire’s goals was the best sound I have ever heard,” he said, admitting he drew inspiration from watching ’99 final commentary before the game. Yet, Maguire tempered the celebration with realism: “We can’t get done on two counter-attacks like that when we’re playing against ten men. It’s criminal really. We’ve got to be far better than that if we want to win this competition.”
Littler’s request, while tongue-in-cheek, reflects the defender’s resurgence. Once stripped of the captaincy and linked with a move away, Maguire has become a linchpin under Amorim, starting regularly in a three-center-back system. His contract extension until 2026, confirmed in January, underscores his value. As United prepare to face Athletic Club in the semi-finals, Littler and the Old Trafford faithful will be dreaming of more heroics—perhaps even from their unlikely No. 9. For now, Maguire’s header has given United a shot at redemption, and Littler a moment to savor as both a fan and a friend of the club’s towering hero.