Goal on full debut guaranteed? DFB starlet dazzles once more ✨ | OneFootball

Assan Ouédraogo’s career began at a dizzying pace. He fired the U17s to the European Championship, became the youngest starting player and goalscorer at Schalke, then the most expensive German U19 transfer to the Bundesliga. So, isn’t his subsequent call-up to the senior national team only logical?

That’s exactly what happened. However, a bored HR manager who only glanced briefly at the 19-year-old’s DFB application folder might ask: So, what exactly did you do between June 2024 and November 2025? Also, I see a gap here between November '23 and March '24!

"The last few months haven’t been easy, for any of us," Ouédraogo recently revealed in a 'Bild' interview, referring to the gaps in his footballing résumé. From an HR manager, he probably would have immediately heard that they’d get back to him. In real life, fortunately, things are working out very well.

Because the son of former pro Alassane Ouédraogo, whom he includes in this statement, is simply happy to be able to play football again. And just as promisingly as on the day he first introduced himself to a wider audience.

Although “introduced” is the wrong word. On July 28, 2023, after just 22 minutes, he simply took over the party. In his already special professional debut, the then 17-year-old scored right away, added an assist, and sparked a crazy hype around himself.

📸 Cathrin Mueller - 2023 Getty Images

Although then S04 coach Thomas Reis used him sparingly on purpose, the wave of euphoria around the teenager nevertheless crashed for the first time in November of the same year. That’s when Ouédraogo played for the German team at the U17 World Cup in Indonesia.

An assignment that had already caused unease at his club beforehand. André Hechelmann, then sporting director at Schalke, said that, in principle, “the interests of the club have to come first.” After all, Schalke was fighting relegation from the second division at the time.

But on the other hand, the top talent shouldn’t be denied this golden opportunity. His teammates would later crown it with the title. But without midfield strategist Ouédraogo, who was injured in the group match against New Zealand after a foul.

The initial assumption that it wasn’t too bad was quickly corrected. Back in Gelsenkirchen, a tear of the anterior syndesmosis was diagnosed. That absence until March 2024 took its course.

A handful of appearances for the club’s first team, where he’d played since he was eight, followed. Then RB Leipzig put ten million euros on the table for him, and soon after, the devout Muslim was put to the test once again.

📸 Marco Luzzani - 2024 Getty Images

A persistent knee injury slowed him down during preparations for his first season with the Saxons. When he was just being slowly reintroduced with brief appearances in early November 2024, the next setback came: Immediately after coming on in the Champions League match against Inter Milan, a tendon in his thigh couldn’t withstand the strain. Ouédraogo didn’t play another competitive match for the rest of the season.

But even this renewed, months-long injury misery couldn’t destroy the 1.91-meter man’s good relationship with starting eleven debuts. The central midfielder celebrated that for Leipzig on September 20 against Cologne—and did so in style, with a goal of his own.

📸 RONNY HARTMANN - AFP or licensors

"What he’s been through since he’s been with us is really tough—even mentally," said RB captain David Raum, speaking for many who have taken a liking to the self-proclaimed “instinct footballer” Ouédraogo.

The fact that Julian Nagelsmann now also “wants to see him in training” is due to the performances the diligent scorer has since delivered. That included three more assists and another goal in the Bundesliga. 

"You always have to stay realistic. I was out for a long time, had few minutes, and the competition is fierce," Ouédraogo told 'Bild' just a few weeks ago regarding a possible DFB nomination. Now, against all odds, he’s actually in the squad, so maybe he can start dreaming after all.

Because the probably all-important duel for World Cup qualification against Slovakia will take place next Monday—of all places, in Leipzig. Maybe stats fanatic Nagelsmann should put Ouédraogo in the starting eleven for a debut goal. Just an idea.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 RONNY HARTMANN - AFP or licensors