Moukoko could become youngest Champions League player

Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko, left, in action with Hertha Berlin’s Niklas Stark during their Bundesliga match on Saturday. Dortmund won 5-2. (Reuters)
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Updated 24 November 2020
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Moukoko could become youngest Champions League player

  • The 16-year-old Cameroonian has been training regularly with the Dortmund first team since August

DORTMUND: Borussia Dortmund forward Youssoufa Moukoko could become the youngest player ever in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Dortmund said Monday that Moukoko was added to the squad for the home match against Belgian club Brugge.

Moukoko broke the Bundesliga record on Saturday when he made his debut for Dortmund on the day after his 16th birthday. Moukoko came off the bench in the 5-2 victory over Hertha Berlin.

If he plays on Tuesday, Moukoko would break the Champions League record held by Celestine Babayaro. The Nigerian left back was 16 years, 87 days old when he played for Belgian club Anderlecht in the group stage in 1994.

Dortmund coach Lucien Favre said he was eager to rotate the team to cope with a busy schedule but didn’t commit to giving Moukoko any game time.

“It’s hard to say and to answer immediately. We will see today in training and we have a lot (of players) up front,” Favre said. “We have a lot of options up front and we will see.”

Moukoko scored 13 goals in four games for Dortmund’s under-19 team this season and 34 in 20 games last season. He has been training regularly with the first team since August.

Moukoko was born in Cameroon but moved to Germany as a child and has played for German youth national teams.

Dortmund are in first place in Group F of the Champions League and will be on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages with a win over Brugge. Dortmund beat the Belgian team 3-0 earlier this month.

Dortmund said Monday that attacking midfielder Reinier had tested positive for the coronavirus. Dortmund said Reinier is in isolation at home and is not showing symptoms. He is on loan from Real Madrid.

Reinier most recently played for the Brazilian under-23 national team in two friendlies in Egypt during the last international break. He wasn’t in the Dortmund squad for the 5-2 Bundesliga victory over Hertha Berlin on Saturday.


Thailand and Poland crowned globe’s best at FIFAe World Cup

Updated 15 December 2025
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Thailand and Poland crowned globe’s best at FIFAe World Cup

  • Thailand crowned champion of eFootball Mobile, and Poland of Console title
  • FIFAe Finals 2025 to conclude with FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League from Dec. 15-19

RIYADH: The FIFAe World Cup united the globe’s top nations in Riyadh at the weekend with Thailand and Poland crowned champions on mobile and console respectively.

The two competitions launched the FIFAe Finals 25, the leading event of football esports running until Dec. 19.

Represented by Jomkata “JXMKT” Yupraphat, Thailand defeated Jose Antonio “JUNINHO” Maciel junior in a captivating final to secure the crown as the world’s best on mobile.

Poland, featuring Milosz “Zilo” Zietek and Mikolaj “Ostrybuch” Zietek, lifted the trophy on console.

With over 16.5 million players taking part globally this season, the stage is set to introduce the next generation of esports talent. The journey continues in February when the FIFAe Challenger Series kicks off in-game in eFootball, marking the first step to the FIFAe World Cup 2026.

The current FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League takes place from Dec. 15 to 19.