Who is Youssoufa Moukoko?

All stats correct as of 14 August 2024

Youssoufa Moukoko

Age: 19
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Striker
Country: Germany (two caps)

Key stats

Even before he started breaking records in the Bundesliga, Moukoko was tipped as a potential world-beater. Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon's capital city, Moukoko moved to Hamburg in 2014 at the age of 10 years old and wasted little time in displaying his incredible goalscoring prowess. He plundered 23 goals in just 13 games for Die Kiezkicker's underage teams, before Dortmund came calling.

Moukoko's been producing astronomical figures ever since. He first played with BVB's U17s aged 13, their U19s aged 14, and after a total of 127 goals in just 84 appearances in all competitions for BVB at youth level, he was promoted to first-team training in January 2020.

Watch: The best of Youssoufa Moukoko

It was only a matter of time before Moukoko was making waves in the Germany top flight and, a day after his 16th birthday, the pocket-rocket forward became the league's youngest debutant when he replaced Erling Haaland in Dortmund's 5-2 thrashing of Hertha Berlin.

Less than a month later, he wrote his name into the history books as the Bundesliga's youngest scorer with his effort against Union Berlin on Matchday 13 of 2019/20, beating the previous record by almost a year.

Becoming the Bundesliga's youngest player to get on the scoresheet in the Klassiker, the Revierderby, to score a brace and reach double figures for goals are just some of the other bullet points he can add to his C.V

Moukoko's run out against Zenit Saint Petersburg also made him the UEFA Champions League's youngest player, aged 16 years and 19 days of age, while he also remains the youngest player to make 50 Bundesliga appearances, one that still stands today.

Ultimately, he finished his first half season with the pros on three goals from 14 appearances. Despite injuries, he still managed two goals and two assists in 16 top-flight outings in the following year.

He has so far been unable to break his way into the Dortmund starting XI on a regular basis, but 17 goals in just 18 Bundesliga starts before hitting his 20s is hardly a poor return. During the first half of the 2021/22 campaign, his six efforts in 14 outings were enough to convince then-Germany manager Hansi Flick to take him to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

That was just reward for his form at international level, where he scored six times in his five matches for Stefan Kuntz's side. He subsequently made his senior debut in a World Cup warm-up against Oman, becoming the four-time world champions' youngest debutant since the late Uwe Seeler in 1954, and fourth all told.

A week later, he made history as the youngest Germany player to appear at a World Cup finals, aged 18 and three days, breaking the record held by Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (19 years and two months, 1958 World Cup). He has been unable to add to his two caps thus far, but has amassed 12 strikes in 13 U21s outings and still has plenty of time to become a Germany mainstay.

Watch: All of Moukoko's Bundesliga goals

Plays a bit like: Sergio Agüero

When we talk about fleet-footed, agile and intelligent finishers who have the ability to contribute to build-up play, there are a few names that spring to mind. One of those is none other than Sergio Agüero, a man who scored everywhere he went before his premature retirement in 2021.

While Moukoko making his Dortmund debut at just 16 years of age is certainly mind boggling, what‘s even more astounding is that Aguero made his debut for Independiente at just 15.

Although Aguero did debut earlier, their first professional goals came at the same age of 16. The Argentine went on to become Manchester City's greatest every scorer, so Moukoko has a long way to go to match the former Barcelona star's achievements, but the raw talent is there.

Watch: Moukoko remembers record-breaking strike

Did you know? 

Youssoufa is not the only footballer in the family. Elder brother Borel, 24, is a left-back who most recently played in the Cameroon with Apejes FC.

"If the talent runs in the family he should become an interesting footballer," his former coach Ralf vom Dorp at Essen told RevierSport.

It's a challenge Borel could be up to - kicking around against a young Youssoufa whilst growing up in Hamburg can't have been too easy a ride! "He's the wonder everyone thinks he is," the elder sibling explained with a smile.

What they're saying

"Youssoufa is quite simply developing really well. He's quick, lively and a good finisher." – former Germany head coach Hansi Flick

"I think he's a really good talent, really promising talent. I think if you meet the boy as well, an excellent boy - very humble, he's got his feet firmly on the ground, which is the most important thing for a young player." - Ex-Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham

"Youssoufa is doing exceptionally well. He's very confident and he's improved his game considerably. We're delighted that Youssoufa is injury free, that he's playing well, scoring goals and getting assists. We'll continue to accompany him along that path." – previous Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzić

"Moukoko's much better than I was at his age. I've never seen such a good 15-year-old in my life. The advantage for him is that he's already playing for Dortmund at the age of 15. At his age, I was still playing for my home town of Bryne." - Moukoko's former Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland