Marco Reus praised Jadon Sancho after Borussia Dortmund's 4-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen, saying the England youth international is better than he had been at the same age.
Former Manchester City academy player Sancho became the first Englishman to score for Dortmund and the youngest English player to score in Bundesliga at the age of 18 years and 27 days.
He also contributed two assists, one following a superb first touch that saw him control a long ball with his heel at full sprint.
"I wasn't that far at his age," Reus told kicker. "How he controls the ball to set up the 3-0, that shows everything. I wasn't that far at his age. So much respect!"
Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc echoed Reus' sentiment, saying: "Jadon was just outstanding for an 18-year-old."
Sancho, starting for the first time since a 2-2 draw with Freiburg in January, got the chance to prove himself as Dortmund coach Peter Stoger made changes to his starting formation.
Captain Marcel Schmelzer did not make the squad and was replaced by Switzerland international Manuel Akanji, who had previously only played as a right-back.
"Marcel Schmelzer is our captain but, in the end, he is also only a player like everyone else," Zorc said.
Stoger added that the 30-year-old, who has played for Dortmund since 2005, "will have difficulty to get back next week if the team plays like today."