Unknown player scored a double in the Champions League, still 'inferior' to Xuan Son

Youssoupha Mbodji scored a double in the first round of matches of the League Phase, Champions League.

At just 21 years old, the left-back of Slavia Prague had a dramatic Champions League debut when he scored twice, becoming the highlight in the 2-2 draw against Bodø/Glimt in the early morning of September 18. Interestingly, Youssoupha Mbodji has not yet been valued by Transfermarkt and is even "inferior" to Nguyen Xuan Son of Nam Dinh , a player who has been valued by this site at 650,000 euros.

Historic double on launch day

It took Mbodji just 23 minutes to carve his name into the scoreboard on the big day. The strike capped off a seemingly perfect evening. However, his inexperience was soon exposed: he committed a foul in the box, giving his opponents the chance to equalise. Luckily for Slavia, goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek made a brilliant save from Kasper Høgh.

After that shaky moment, Mbodji quickly regained his confidence. In the 74th minute, he completed a double to put Slavia ahead again. “He brings a special energy,” coach Jindřich Trpišovský said after the match. “Mbodji’s ability to support the attack is very strong. With his limited experience, his performance tonight was truly extraordinary.”

Unfortunately, Slavia could not hold on to their advantage. Daniel Bassi pulled Bodø/Glimt back in the 78th minute, before Sondre Brunstad Fet ended the hosts' dream of victory with an equaliser in injury time. Trpišovský admitted: “This is a very difficult result to accept. We were very close to winning and even had a chance to decide the game in the last minute.”

Youssoupha Mbodji is considered the pearl of Slavia.

If Slavia were left to rue the draw, Mbodji's performance gave them cause for optimism. Just a year ago, the young defender was playing for Evian Thonon in the French fifth division.

Trained at PSG academy but unable to find a place in the capital team, he had to find opportunities in modest football fields. It was from that environment that Mbodji honed his physical strength, tenacity and perseverance.

In the summer of 2024, Slavia Prague saw the potential and decided to spend 1.2 million euros - not a large sum in the European market, but a significant bet for a player with no reputation. After only two official matches, Mbodji has 2 goals - a rare performance for a defender. Transfermarkt has not even had time to evaluate his value, but if this form is maintained, the fee of 1.2 million euros will soon become a big bargain.

The Unexpected Hero and the Future Ahead

In football, especially in the Champions League, opportunities often come only once. Mbodji took it to introduce himself to the whole of Europe. From an unknown player in the lowest division of France, he stepped into the spotlight on the biggest stage, scoring as many goals as the top scorers on his debut.

Slavia have a long way to go if they are to go far in this competition, but in Mbodji they have a brilliant diamond in the rough. He is living proof that smart investments, based on potential rather than reputation, can bring sweet results.

Youssoupha Mbodji’s future lies ahead, but looking back at the journey he has taken – from the PSG academy, to Evian, to Slavia and now to the Champions League – it has been a whirlwind journey. And perhaps this is just the beginning of a new European fairytale.

Source: https://znews.vn/cau-thu-vo-danh-lap-cu-dup-champions-league-van-lep-ve-xuan-son-post1586279.html