Moukoko eligible to debut for Borussia Dortmund's seniors: The next great player after Messi

Posted Friday, November 20, 2020 by Marca.com

At the age of 12, Youssoufa Moukoko played for Borussia Dortmund's U17 side and at 14 he jumped to the U19. His 127 goals in the 84 games he has played for the club's youth sides served as a passport for his leap into first team training from January.

Last summer, Moukoko was given a first team squad number and he will be able to feature for Dortmund against Hertha Berlin on Saturday after turning 16 on Friday.

"He's very good, he has great potential," noted his coach Lucien Favre. "You don't know if he's left-footed or right-footed. He's lethal in front of goal."

This course, Moukoko has scored 13 goals - including three hat-tricks and four in a game - in four matches that have earned him a call up to Germany's U20 side.

"It is incredible that a boy his age, who plays against opponents two and three years older, can score so many goals," added German national team coach Joachim Low.

If Moukoko makes his official debut with Borussia Dortmund's seniors against Hertha Berlin on Saturday, he will beat the record set by former BVB midfielder Nuri Sahin, who debuted at the age of 16 years and 11 months.

"We are not trying to break records, but not allowing us to use exceptionally talented youngsters is a disadvantage compared to other leagues," Dortmund youth coordinator Lars Ricken told Kicker.

According to the Sun, Moukoko is currently earning around 350,000 euros a year and has already signed a 10 million euro contract with Nike. Samuel Eto'o has labelled him the next Lionel Messi and Sahin has warned the youngster that tough days will come.

"With the new rule I realised that my record would soon be broken," Sahin admitted to Kicker. "Youssoufa must take the next step as the U19 games are too easy for him.

"So far the sun is shining, but rainy days will come and it is important that he is well accompanied."

Moukoko can also become the youngest scorer in the history of the Bundesliga, by overtaking Florian Wirtz who netted at the age of 17 years and one month.

"In my first year at the U19s, he was 14 years old and he was already playing with the U17s", Sergio Gomez who plays for Huesca on loan from Borussia Dortmund told MARCA. "In every game he tends to score goals.

"There are many promising young players in the big leagues, but at that age I don't think anybody stands out in that way. He has many virtues: he is fast, can read and attack spaces well and is lethal in front of goal.

"He is well developed physically and will continue to improve until he becomes a great athlete. Dortmund only have one No.9 in [Erling] Haaland, and he has no substitute."