Paris Saint-Germain has the lowest average age of all sides in this season’s Champions League quarterfinals and no player embodies the youthful energy and dynamism of Luis Enrique‘s team more than the thrilling Désiré Doué.
There is more than a touch of Neymar in the 19-year-old with the dazzling feet who lit up the first leg of the quarterfinal series against Aston Villa with a magnificent goal at the Parc des Princes.
Doue’s superb strike late in the first half was PSG’s equalizer in a game they went on to win 3-1, leaving the French champions in a strong position before Tuesday’s second leg.
They appear poised to reach the semifinals for the second year running and are hoping to go all the way to the final in Munich in late May.
That would be quite an achievement for PSG in its first season since the departure of Kylian Mbappe, who left for Real Madrid a year after fellow attacking superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar moved on.
PSG has now been transformed and is a team in which Doue is one of six players aged 22 or under to have made significant contributions in the Champions League, along with Bradley Barcola, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes, Warren Zaire-Emery and Lucas Beraldo.
An average age of 23.3 makes them the youngest in the competition, ahead of Barcelona’s 24.15.
Doué was one of those brought in during last summer’s transfer window, arriving from Rennes on a five-year deal for a reported 50 million euros ($56.9m).
He had made 76 appearances for Rennes across the previous two campaigns, getting his debut aged 17 in August 2022.
Yet Doué needed time to settle into his new surroundings, not least having played for Thierry Henry‘s France team on the run to the gold-medal game of the Paris Olympics.
SUBSCRIBE TO KEEP READING
Start for $0 & enjoy free unlimited access for 30 days.
- Daily TV listings for U.S. and global soccer.
- Inside access to USA’s 2026 World Cup prep.
- Exclusive interviews with players and coaches.
- Expert analysis of top soccer headlines.
- Cancel anytime.
Already have an account? Sign in here.
CHECK OUT MORE STORIES
Not ready to subscribe? Sign up here for our free newsletter.
Already have an account? Sign in here.
