Sensational performance against Bochum
Dortmund prodigy chasing historic World Cup record
By Stephan Uersfeld
11/06/2022, 7:11 p.m
In time for the World Cup in Qatar, Youssoufa Moukoko remembers the things that made Erling Haaland go into raptures two years ago. Against VfL Bochum, the 17-year-old is close to the World Cup squad. There he could set a new record for eternity.
Almost two years ago, the whole world was waiting for his debut, then he fell into oblivion. He has arrived in professional football a few days before the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is announced. We are of course talking about Youssoufa Moukoko, about whom wonderful things were once said, who broke all records in his youth and then disappeared. Down to the lowlands of the third division.
On November 21, 2020, Erling Haaland will be standing in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. It’s a pandemic, the time for ghost games. Haaland has just made four goals in the second half from a 0-1 deficit to 5-2. He will soon be injured and thus herald the end of coach Lucien Favre. He can’t do without him and will make room for interim coach Edin Terzić in December. But none of that counts today.
In addition to Haaland’s four-pack, which makes him the youngest player to score four goals in one game in the Bundesliga, the world is fascinated by Moukoko, who celebrates his Bundesliga debut the day after his 16th birthday, in the 85th minute replaced today’s world star by Manchester City. He was later full of praise for the youngster: “He’s the greatest talent in world football. I’m 20 now. I’m getting old, that’s how it is!” After the game, the one who was praised in this way rushes to his smartphone, shares stories on Instagram, has arrived and celebrates his first appearance.
Like Ricken once did against Turin
Now, two years later, it’s finally time for records again. Eleven goals in the Bundesliga before his 18th birthday. No professional was younger in the league’s long history. He’s still on Instagram. His now 867,000 followers – teammate Jude Bellingham has 2.8 million, Bayern star Jamal Musiala 1.4 million and old man Haaland 20.3 million – he regularly announces when he has been successful again. This happens more often now. After three goals in the 2020/2021 season and only two last year, he now has six goals, almost all of them not only remarkable but also game-changing.
Like on Saturday in the 3-0 win over VfL Bochum, where he scored two dream goals. The first, his record goal, under the bar, the second with an eye from afar, like Lars Ricken did in the final of the Champions League in 1997. Two unbelievable goals. He later said of his first goal: “It was a great goal. What can I say about that: training, training, training – and then something like that happens”. And maybe a lot more.
Because suddenly Moukoko is very close to the World Cup squad, national coach Hansi Flick has been in contact with him for a long time. The idea that he is reviving the German offensive with Musiala gives rise to at least a little anticipation for the controversial tournament. It is far from clear whether this will happen at all. The voices wanting to see him in the squad are getting louder and louder. Moukoko has the arguments on his side. “To be honest, I don’t care,” he said after the game when asked about his World Cup chances, only to do the opposite: “I’d like to be there, but we’ll see who’s there on Thursday.”
Still in January with the amateurs
That alone is a huge success for Moukoko, who has to endure the suffering of a young professional after his first game in Berlin. A year after his debut in the professional team, he will be demoted to the squad of the second BVB team on November 27, 2021. At the end of January 2022 he will be back with the Amas, as Dortmund’s third division team is called. Numerous injuries, but also the lack of confidence from coach Marco Rose, mean that Moukoko can no longer dream of anything. BVB are considering whether it would be better to take a detour, gain experience abroad and then have a look.
But also because his contract expires in the summer of 2023, there is no loan. The child prodigy has become a follower. The first write him off and put him in a league with all the starlets in world football that died out early. “Just a Freddy Adu,” comment the most hateful users of social media, where crashes are always registered with gaping applause.
“Unfortunately, I was injured a lot last year and haven’t really gotten used to the Bundesliga yet. My body wasn’t ready because I was injured again and again, then I came back and then I was injured again,” Moukoko looks back. Since his winning goal in the derby, he has been bursting with self-confidence, he has long since outstripped the emergency purchase Anthony Modeste. He is now much more integrated into the Dortmund game, shows himself in his own half and always causes unrest.
In good moments, his first contact cannot be defended by his opponents. Against the defensive edges of FC Sevilla, he proves it in the Champions League. He scores against Bayern, he scores in the derby and in the small derby. With Edin Terzić and his former youth coach, and today’s BVB co, Sebastian Geppert, he has confidants at his side. Two to show him the way. They also warn. Keeping the teenager grounded, not with cinder blocks, but with clear communication.
The Schnellinger record
Because of course not everything is running smoothly. In the Champions League he lost his nerve in the game against Manchester City, against Bochum he missed a good chance from a promising position. He’s not a Haaland yet. It probably never will. He lacks the pace and also a bit of the body. But a good striker, one who can decide games, he can become that. “He’s extremely talented and wants to improve every day. He’s made a huge step. He’s always playable and uses his body a lot better,” says his coach, warning: “Just like we protected him when he put balls wide of the goal, it will continue now. He is and will remain 17.”
That will change on November 20th. “The greatest talent in world football” has become one who could set a new record at the World Cup in Qatar. An 18-year-old has never played for Germany at a world tournament. The previous record holder Karl-Heinz Schnellinger was 19 years, two months and 11 days when he made his debut in the 2-2 win against Czechoslovakia on June 11, 1958.
Almost as old as the old man Erling Haaland on November 21, 2020 in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. The day Moukoko embarks on his long career path. Where this will lead him from the 2023/2024 season is still unclear. His contract in Dortmund expires. There is great hope that he will commit himself to the club after his birthday. “The relationship with the club is very good, I’ve been here for seven years. I have Edin’s trust, know the environment and feel very comfortable here,” he says. Not bad prospects for BVB.