Ex-BVB talent Moukoko on his lowest point: "I cried" | OneFootball

After his difficult farewell from Borussia Dortmund, Youssoufa Moukoko struggled with rumors and setbacks. Now he openly shares how he found himself again in Copenhagen.

At just 20 years old, Youssoufa Moukoko looks back on an extraordinary but also turbulent career. The former Borussia Dortmund wonderkid still holds the records as the youngest Bundesliga player, youngest Bundesliga goalscorer, and youngest World Cup player in DFB history. Nevertheless, the striker was ultimately unable to consistently meet the enormous expectations in Dortmund.

After a difficult period, Moukoko initially moved on loan to OGC Nice, where at times he wasn’t even included in the squad. In the summer of 2025, he finally decided to make a fresh start in Denmark with FC Copenhagen. Speaking about his move in an interview with TV channel TV2, he said: “Copenhagen is a beautiful city and the team really plays well.”

The start in Copenhagen wasn’t easy either. Coach Jacob Neestrup supported him during this phase: “I always felt his trust, but in the beginning it wasn’t easy for me,” said Moukoko. By now, he has settled in: In his last four games, he has scored three goals for his new club.

Rumors about birth certificate: Difficult times for former BVB star Moukoko

Alongside sporting challenges, Moukoko also had to cope with personal crises. Rumors about an alleged forgery of his birth certificate kept circulating. Speaking openly about these difficult times, he says: “I think I was surprised by how many people will do anything to get attention. Some people are incredibly greedy. Maybe one day I’ll make my own documentary.” And emotionally, he adds: “I have cried and thought: ‘How do I get out of this?’ and: ‘When will it get better?’ Many people simply say after tough times: ‘Everything is fine.’ But I want to talk about it. Sometimes you have to learn to scream for help.”

Today, the former BVB jewel works regularly with a sports psychologist, which has helped him a lot, and he also recommends this to other young players: “I would recommend everyone to take this step.” Despite the setbacks, Youssoufa Moukoko now seems to have found his place again, both on and off the pitch.

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