"I want to become a professional with Dortmund, win the UEFA Champions League with the club, and win the Ballon d'Or." Those are the words of Youssoufa Moukoko, and it's some statement from a 15-year-old striker currently plying his trade in Germany. He is dreaming big, and who can blame him after what he's achieved this season.While Moukoko is yet to play a senior match for Borussia Dortmund, it is surely only a matter of time before he does.That could be as soon as next month because when the teenager turns 16, he will be allowed to participate in Bundesliga matches.If he does play soon after his birthday on November 20th, he will likely become the youngest player in Dortmund history. That record is currently held by Nuri Sahin, someone who debuted for the German side aged 16 years, 11 months and 1 day.Moukoko, therefore, could blow that record out of the water.
But why are we talking about the starlet as though he's definitely going to get a first-team call-up? Because so far this term, he's been in breathtaking form, following on from a successful few years in Dortmund's academy. To put things simply, the 15-year-old is a goalscoring machine. Think Erling Haaland on steroids. So far this season, Moukoko has scored four hat-tricks in four games. We're not telling lies here - those statistics really are true. The Germany youth international netted three goals in each match against Preußen Munster, SV Wehen and Schalke but then improved on that by scoring four in a 6-0 win over Essen last Saturday. That means he's now scoring at a rate of a goal every 28 minutes.It's a fearsome record, but for everyone at Dortmund, this kind of form from Moukoko isn't surprising.
The Cameroon-born striker hit 34 goals in 20 games last season and in total, he has amassed a haul of 127 strikes from 84 career outings.Those are numbers that defy belief, but when you look at the way he scores his goals, it comes as no surprise.
The way he sits defenders down with regularity is phenomenal, so you can clearly see why he's being touted for professional minutes. Moukoko has already had the honour of training with the first-team with videos being shared of him learning from Marco Reus and Julian Brandt.
However, if you needed any further reasons to believe the hype, Haaland gave us the perfect appraisal.
Speaking about the striker earlier this year, he said: "Moukoko's much better than I was at his age. I've never seen such a good 15-year-old in my life."
That's a scary assessment of the striker, someone who was playing U19 football when he was just 14 years of age.
Thus, as well as having the technical ability to frighten the life out of defenders, he also has the physical nouse to handle much bigger opponents. Moukoko seems to have it all - not only can he score from inside the area but he's also adept at shooting from range.
Just like Haaland, though, the teenager is left-footed and that element of his game has been compared to the great Lionel Messi.
The Bundesliga website notes his phenomenal dribbling ability, citing the following:
"Having only recently hit 5'10" in height, the majority of defenders Moukoko has lined up against have towered over him throughout his career to date. Instead, Moukoko uses his low centre of gravity, sharp control and incredible game awareness to make and take chances. He also has a wand of a left foot and is ice cold in front of goal."
He is the definition of a twinkle-toed footballer, a talent blessed with the ability to beat his man with sheer ingenuity and then find the back of the net with unerring confidence.
Of course, it's important not to get completely carried away. He's still only playing youth football and it won't be until he begins to play in the Bundesliga that we get a real sense of what he's capable of.
It would be rude not to get excited, though.