Borussia Dortmund and Cameroonian wonderkid Youssoufa Moukoko has set a couple of records in Bundesliga this season.
Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho are two of the most sought-after youngsters of Dortmund. However, Moukoko is now getting his share of the spotlight after scoring his first senior team goal for the German side.
The 16-year-old netted a sensational equalizer on Friday against Union Berlin to break the record set by Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz earlier this year, Goal reported.
Moukoko, who has earned comparisons to Lionel Messi, became the youngest goal scorer in Bundesliga history at 16 years and 28 days old, a feat previously held by Wirtz, who scored his first senior goal at 17 years and 34 days old.
Prior to copping the incredible goal record, Moukoko had already set a few records in his debut season with Dortmund. Last month, he became the German top flight’s youngest debutant, coming off the bench as a substitute for Haaland against Hertha Berlin aged 16 years and one day.
The soccer prodigy was also hailed the youngest Bundesliga starter and the youngest player to be featured in the UEFA Champions League, taking over the spots held by Nuri Sahin and Celestine Babayaro.
Despite notching his first goal this season, Moukoko wasn’t able to lead Dortmund to victory against Union Berlin in the hard-fought match at Olympiastadion Berlin stadium. After the match, Union captain Christopher Trimmel reflected on his side’s win and lauded Moukoko for an impressive game.
“It’s great that we win the game through two set-pieces,” Trimmel told ZDF. “There was a lot of passion, no opponent has it easy against us.”
“You have to congratulate [Moukoko] the young 16-year-old on his Bundesliga goal, that’s something very special,” he added graciously.
Moukoko’s senior club debut at Dortmund is something German football has been waiting for. But apart from having a promising club career, the “African Messi” is also seen as a star in the making on the international stage.
“It’s almost hard to believe that someone at that age can score so many goals in an U19 (under 19) league against players two or three years older than him,” Germany head coach Joachim Löw told Bundesliga.com of Moukoko.
“He has a talent which you don’t come across that often, especially since age always plays a role in the youth teams,” he added. “It’s difficult if you’re two years younger and you always have to keep an eye on how players develop, but Moukoko has been outstanding in the youth teams so far.”
