Youssoufa Moukoko was the youngest in the delivery room when he was born, he is the youngest of two brothers and he was the youngest of his relatives who wore an authentic shirt from FC St. Pauli and Borussia Dortmund. These family records are often neglected in his biography because his football records are much more impressive and more relevant in terms of sport history.
On Thursday evening, when the German U21 national team won their European Championship qualifier 6-0, as expected, Moukoko contributed two goals. The goals and the result were not exactly exciting, but Moukoko’s record in this game – against and alongside 20- and 21-year-old footballers in particular: At 16 years and 286 days, he is now the youngest debutant and goalscorer of a German U21 selection.
What is he looking forward to the most? On the driver’s license!
Born on November 20, 2004 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Moukoko played in Borussia Dortmund’s U17s when he was twelve and in the U19s when he was 14. When he turned 16 last November, he was already part of the BVB Bundesliga squad, and then within a few weeks he broke the following records: At 16 years and one day, he became the youngest Bundesliga player in history. At 16 years and 18 days, he became the youngest Champions League player. And at 16 years and 28 days the youngest Bundesliga scorer in history.
It is unlikely that someone will take these records away from him, because you can only play at the age of 16.
Because Moukoko was physically in no way inferior to his team-mates, who were always much older, there was once a public debate as to whether he had really been entered in the correct year of birth after his birth in Yaoundé. Moukoko revealed these reports last summer. In the meantime, he even thought of quitting. In the meantime, however, he is probably over it.
“Of course I’m happy about the record,” said Moukoko the day after the 6-0 win, “but I can’t buy anything from it. I haven’t really achieved anything yet. My path is only just beginning.”
Moukoko will soon be 17th. What is he most looking forward to? “On the driver’s license,” he says. Even he had to wait dutifully for him.