At just 20 years old, Youssoufa Moukoko has already had a turbulent football career. The striker still holds the records for the youngest player to appear in the Bundesliga, the youngest goalscorer in the Bundesliga, and the youngest player in the history of the German Football Association (DFB) to feature in a World Cup. Once hailed as Borussia Dortmund's "prodigy," he rose to prominence rapidly only to experience a swift decline. Eventually, he left Dortmund in 2024 to pursue his career in Denmark. However, an unexpected twist seems to have brought comfort to the young man.
He never imagined that one day he would play for Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga—a feeling he shared with emotion during an interview with Camel Live. Moukoko revealed that the reason he joined the club, seeking a temporary break from the spotlight, was on the advice of Mike Tullberg, a youth coach at Dortmund. The striker explained that his former coach told him Copenhagen is “a beautiful city, and the team plays really well.”
Since his debut, there have been persistent rumors claiming his birth certificate is fake and that he is actually several years older than his publicly declared age. This speculation has been, and will continue to be, addressed through legal channels. "I’m surprised by how many people would go to such underhanded lengths just to grab attention. Some people are so greedy—maybe one day I’ll make a documentary about myself," Moukoko recalled this chapter of his career, admitting emotionally: “I cried, and I’d think, ‘How do I get out of this mess?’ ‘When will things get better?’ Sometimes, you have to learn to ask for help even through your tears.”
Now, he no longer cares about others’ comments. Moukoko sees a sports psychologist every week—something he never did before, but now “would recommend to everyone.”