Dortmund wonderkid Moukoko idolised Messi as his brother backs him to ignore the hype

Youssoufa Moukoko grew up idolising Barcelona celebrity Lionel Messi, the 16-year-old’s brother has revealed, with the Borussia Dortmund starlet being backed to disregard the hype he’s producing and create his personal legacy within the international sport.

The highly-rated forward has burst onto the senior scene in Germany, together with his exploits at youth degree making his undoubted potential not possible to disregard.

Records have tumbled around him since linking up with Dortmund in 2016, with Lucien Favre providing up a senior debut in November 2020 after DFB age restrictions have been modified and 16 12 months olds cleared to compete within the Bundesliga.

Moukoko is now the youngest player to grace that stage, and to score on it, whereas he holds the same entry within the historical past books on the subject of Champions League competitors.

Huge issues are anticipated of {the teenager} from this level, together with his brother Borel – who’s at the moment turning out within the fifth tier of German soccer – admitting {that a} scorching prospect resides a boyhood dream by following within the footsteps of his idols.

“I preferred to observe Barcelona, Actual [Madrid], Liverpool and Bayern and see how the gamers behaved in order that I may be taught as a lot as doable from them,” Borel Moukoko informed Goal and DAZN.

“Youssoufa has all the time preferred Lionel Messi. We additionally typically watched the video games from the highest European leagues or the Champions League collectively. That was all the time great.

“In Africa, it’s uncommon for folks to sit down at dwelling alone in entrance of the tv and watch soccer. Most individuals go to a bar and watch collectively. Generally 100 folks come collectively to observe prime matches within the Champions League.

“You do not have to order something, you may simply sit there and watch the sport. When a purpose is scored, many individuals go completely loopy and are completely satisfied for the golf equipment they help.”

Moukoko’s large break at Dortmund has include coronavirus restrictions nonetheless in place, together with his household being prevented from catching him in dwell motion.

That state of affairs will change, although, and there may be the promise of a taking pictures star hovering even larger by the point supporters are allowed again into stadiums en masse.

Many might be wanting to catch a glimpse of Moukoko, given all that he has achieved thus far, however his sibling is assured that an bold performer won’t get swept up within the furore he continues to generate.

Borel added: “Sadly, one can’t affect what’s written within the media. Particularly since Youssoufa’s story was and is solely extraordinary.

“The media have to put in writing it down and report it. What ought to he do about it? Rating fewer targets? Once you’re pretty much as good as he’s at one thing, folks simply discuss you, there is not any altering that.

“Now we have all the time supported him as a household but additionally motivated him to remain hungry and never relaxation on his early successes.

“The hype round him, or at the moment the dialogue about his age, didn’t curiosity him a lot. Above all, none of this has distracted him from his path – and that’s the most vital factor.”

Moukoko is now as much as 11 senior appearances for Dortmund, with two Bundesliga targets recorded throughout these outings.