Fall from grace: once-massive German talent of African origins struggles in Denmark

It's strange how life changes in a few years. Once you're on top, you're close to the bottom the next moment.

Just look at Youssoufa Moukoko, who was labelled one of the world's most promising forwards just a few years ago.

He broke many records, including becoming the youngest Bundesliga player in league history a day after turning 16.

The fall of a Cameroonian-born star with questionable age

Moreover, he also became the youngest player in the Champions League at the age of 16 years and 18 days. However, those days are now long gone, and the striker of Cameroonian origins is struggling to find his place in senior football although he's still very young - just 20.

After a season-long loan at Nice, Moukoko decided to leave Borussia Dortmund permanently, signing a five-year contract with FC Kobenhavn in Denmark.

He hasn't scored in the opening two rounds of the Danish first division, as he's probably still getting used to his new club and country.

"I didn't expect such a great welcome from the fans and it's really nice to feel the support. It's important that we have won the opening two matches. Of course, we want to win as much as possible, but even if there is a defeat, we have to stay together. I had several good chances to score, I was unlucky not to be among the scorers, but I believe there will be more," said the former great hope of BVB.

Sensation at 16, out of contention at 19: Moukoko's time at BVB is running out

Moukoko communicates in German with Thomas Delaney and Joran Larsson and speaks English with other teammates.

"I am trying to speak a little Danish and I have already learned a few words. It is also difficult, but I am trying and I hope that at the end of the season I will be able to speak well," Mukoko pointed out.

Between 2017 and 2020, he was considered a real prodigy while playing for the Dortmund youth teams. Wearing the jersey of the U17 team, he scored an incredible 90 goals in 56 games, while in the youth team (U19 team), he netted 47 times in 25 matches. Around that time, a boy born in Cameroon received enormous media attention. He even scored the first goal in his professional career at the age of 17, but as time went on, instead of progressing further, stagnation followed.

Then the story appeared in the media that his father Joseph is not actually his biological parent, but his stepfather, and his words were even published that Youssoufa was not born in 2004, but in 2000. And although the truth was not fully revealed, Moukoko's career, as expected, went downhill. The media and interested clubs, who were looking for him at that time, among others, Chelsea, Barcelona, and Tottenham, began to look at all his achievements with different eyes.

‘Moukoko is not my son, he is 24 years old‘

His market value dropped from 30,000,000 to only 10,000,000 euros. After a thin year on loan at Nice, he moved to Kobenhavn for 5,000,000, and with bonuses, the figure can go to 6,000,000 euros.