IF you think Borussia Dortmund wonderkids Mario Gotze and Christian Pulisic were top drawer, wait till you see the latest kid coming through their ranks.
Youssoufa Moukoko, their 15-year-old sensation, is currently the hottest prospect in Germany – shattering Bundesliga goalscoring records at U17 and U19 levels in consecutive seasons.
Youssoufa Moukoko has turned heads in Germany with his blistering goalscoring streak and looks destined to be a superstarCredit: Getty – Contributor
Moukoko has scored a record breaking 34 goals in 20 games at U19 level aged just 15Credit: Getty – Contributor
Forget Robert Lewandowski, Moukoko is the real deal and has remarkably scored 84 goals in just two seasons for the German giants, who continue to provide young players with a platform to succeed.
Last weekend the lightning-quick striker notched twice in a 3-0 win over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen to take his tally to 34 goals in just 20 games in the U19 Bundesliga West.
That double meant Moukoko beat the previous record of 33 for a full season set by VfL Bochum’s Haluk Türkeri in 2004/05 and Werder Bremen’s Johannes Eggestein in 2015/16.
And there’s still six games to go for him to add to his mega total.
‘THE TOOLS ARE THERE’
Champions League-winning club legend and youth boss Lars Ricken spoke to German newspaper Bild about Moukoko’s rapid rise.
“We see this as the right year for him to play in this age group, which corresponds to his performance,” he said.
“He’s scored a lot of goals, is very inquisitive, hungry for success, hardworking and always comes with a smile that distinguishes him.
“That’s what we look at. The tools are there.”
The 15-year-old does not look out of place against opponents four years older than himselfCredit: Getty – Contributor
Last season with the U17s Moukoko scored 50 goals in a seasonCredit: Getty
After scoring 50 goals for the U17s in 2018-19, breaking another record set by Donis Avdijaj’s 44 goals from the 2012/13 season, modest Moukoko was thankful to his teammates.
“I’m proud and thrilled by what we’ve achieved. Fifty goals – I never would’ve managed it without you [his team-mates],”
On top of that he has notched three goals in four games for Germany Under-16s, as he continues to progress.
HOW OLD IS HE?
But such rapid success was quickly met with doubts about his age, even from inside his own club.
Dortmund’s Under-23s manager Timo Preus said: “With Youssoufa, I can imagine that his age has only been guessed.
“Maybe in reality he is one or two years older. But certainly he is not 17. For him that is very difficult.
Youssoufa Moukoko’s exploits for the German Under-16s and Dortmund saw his age questionedCredit: Getty
Youssoufa Moukoko is relaxed about the hype – with even his own dad refusing to call him a wonderkidCredit: Getty
“There is nothing to blame him for, the boy is not cheating or anything.”
Moukoko’s dad, Joseph, has been forced to insist his precocious son is the age he claims he is – even if he refuses to get caught up in the tidal wave of excitement surrounding the lad.
Moukoko Sr said: “His age is right.
“Immediately after he was was born I registered him at the German consulate in Yaounde. We have a German birth certificate.
“For me he is not a wonderkid. I was even better as a kid.”
THE PAPERWORK IS IN ORDER
The player’s birth certificate states he was born on November 20, 2004, and the German Football Association (DFB) have since confirmed all the paperwork is in order.
A statement said: “The DFB has already had a number of intensive discussions with Borussia Dortmund at various levels. There is no doubt about the correctness of the age of the player.”
Youssoufa Moukoko could follow in the footsteps of World Cup winner Mario Gotze by getting into the Dortmund first teamCredit: Getty
Youssoufa Moukoko looks far more physically mature than your average 15-year-oldCredit: Getty
The precocious teen has made headlines around the world for his incredible feats in front of goalCredit: Getty
Moukoko cannot play in the Bundesliga until he is 17 because of DFB rules.
But it’s expected he could surpass the greatness of fellow Dortmund academy stars Pulisic and World Cup winner Gotze.
Streets ahead of his rivals despite being younger, Moukoko seems destined for superstardom.
Jadon Sancho ‘ready to accept £100m Man Utd transfer’ in brutal snub to old club City from Dortmund this summer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
